Abstract
New technology systems are radically changing cockpit designs. But little information is available about the best use of the capabilities provided by these new systems to optimize crew performance and minimize pilot error accidents. This paper describes a method for using pilot error accident analyses to identify areas in which aircraft design improvements would be desirable and cost effective. A Total System Approach can be used to extract generic information from the accident records while protecting the privileged information contained in those records. Accident reports, grouped for analysis by experienced specialists, can be scrutinized to expose areas in which flight and/or mission requirements exceed pilot capabilities. Technology needs, aimed at either reducing flight/mission requirements or enhancing pilot capabilities, can then be identified. A better balance of these requirements and capabilities can be expected to reduce pilot error accidents, resulting in cost savings which would offset the cost of new system design development.
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