This report deals with information supplied by respondents to
the Advanced Technology Aircraft Safety Survey and provides a
detailed analysis of answers to both the 'open' and 'closed'
questions.
Accident, incident and anecdotal evidence indicates that the
introduction of new technology to aviation has generally resulted
in benefits to safety and efficiency (Norman & Abbott 1988),
but has also resulted in a range of new human factors and
operational difficulties. BASI's advanced technology aircraft
research project was begun in response to a number of perceived
problems such as data entry errors, monitoring failures, mode
selection errors and inappropriate manipulation of automated
systems.
Phase 1 of this project included a literature review which
identified major concerns with advanced aircraft, including pilot
complacency, potential loss of skills, and loss of situational
awareness. There have been several previous surveys concerned with
advanced technology aircraft safety issues. Wiener (1989) surveyed
errors made by pilots of Boeing 757 aircraft and Wiener and others
(1991) compared the DC9 with the MD 80, looking at errors in
the
operation of both aircraft types.