Kate Fraser, who is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Human Factors in Aerospace at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University‘s Worldwide campus, is conducting a survey of pilots as part of her thesis.
“The objective of this thesis is to better understand if automation trust and perception differs by age,” she says. “Obtaining a better understanding of how trust varies by age will enable a closer examination of any side effects, specifically complacency. Additionally, this survey will enable additional exploration of the pilot’s role in the aircraft depending on if perception of automation has changed.”
To be eligible to complete this survey, you must be over the age of 18 and hold at least a student pilot certificate.
The questionnaire should not take longer than five minutes to complete and is both anonymous and confidential.
Auto Pilot is very useful and needed in many GA airplanes, military and airlines. AP reduces the workload of the crew during highly stressful environment. But, unfortunately after prolong usage, ‘Dependency Syndrome’ sets in the among the crew. Depending on the airline’s use of automation, many pilots lose the basic feel of aircraft flying. They are no longer ‘PILOTS”. They become more of ‘Managers”.
‘Dependency Syndrome’ leads also to complacency. They know autopilot is doing a job, but many do not check and verify it is doing the right job. Could be taking a wrong command instruction. So even if the autopilot is flying the airplane, pilot must be in-charge. Always.
‘Dependency Syndrome’ gives ways to slight erosion of pilots aircraft handling skills. From take-off, once the autopilot is engaged, it will fly you to your destination and even make an auto-landing for you. Should there be an incident where raw data needs to be used and hand fly the airplane, that is when you will still need those ‘Rudder and Stick’ skills. This can be noticed during exercises in flight simulator.
Use the Autopilot but you are in command and you fly the airplane.
I always take my backups iPad and my Garmin 696. I’ve had too many Vac pumps failed and too many Xsponders fail during my 53 years of flying. And a flat screen go black
The survey needs to define what it considers ‘automation’.
An autopliot is , especially if coupled to a nav device.
What about a PDF and MFD ? An engine monitor ?
How about a tablet running a moving sectional map ?
Interesting questions. But I would ask a few others:
1) Have you ever had smart devices fail — explain
2) Have you ever had avionics fail — explain
3) If any have failed, did ground checks find those failures first or did you find it during flight
4) If those failures occurred in flight, did you inform ATC/NTSB?
Example: I have found that our A/P should not be used in IMC until at first assigned altitude. Pre-flight ground checks show it OK. The ground check does NOT detect a bad connection to the instruments that it gets guidance from. So you turn it on, tell it to follow the heading bug, and it will roll the yoke in that direction to full deflection. Transitioning to instruments as you enter the clag at 700′ AGL and engaging the AP for an obstacle departure procedure and you will be in an unusual attitude before you realize what has happened. A/P that comes with older Pipers has this exact problem.