Design of Instrument Approach Procedure Charts Comprehension Speed of Missed Approach Instructions Coded in Text or Icons

Details

• Creators:
  Osborne, D.W. ; Huntley, M. Stephen, Jr.
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
• Corporate Contributors:
  EG & G Dynatrend
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Instrument landing systems
  • Aeronautical charts
  • Approach control
  • Human factors
  • Air pilots
  • Instrument approach procedure charts
  • Aeronautical charts
  • Missed approach
  • Icons
  • Human factors
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• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-VNTSC-FAA-92-3 ; DOT/FAA/RD-92/3
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report July 1991-December 1991
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation Research
• Abstract:
  Instrument approach procedure (IAP) charts are often cluttered and confusing. The quantified effects of chart design ; changes on information transfer are needed by chart manufacturers to make changes uhich will enhance information transfer ; and human performance. The present study was conducted as part of a continuing effort at the Volpe National ; Transportation Systems Center Human Performance Laboratory to develop human performance-based design guidelines for IAP ; charts. ; The objectives of this experiment were to determine whether encoding missed approach instructions in text or icons would ; result in more efficient information transfer, and if the information transfer efficiency for either coding technique was ; dependent upon the level of information content. Twelve pilots currently licensed for instrument (IFR) flight ; participated as subjects. Text instructions were either taken directly or developed from instructions found on National ; Ocean Service (N0S) IAP charts. Because of formatting inconsistencies in current NOS missed approach instructions, a ; standard format was developed. In order to approximate the range of information content found in current NOS missed ; approach instructions, these instructions possessed one of three levels of information content: low, medium, and high. ; Comprehension speed was measured by counting the number of one second presentations (glances) subjects required to view ; the instructions in order to verbally report them. Report accuracy was also measured. Subjects completed questionnaires ; concerning their flight experience, preferences for IAP chart manufacturers, and preference for text or iconic coding of ; the instructions. ; Across the range of information content levels, iconic missed approach instructions were comprehended more quickly and as ; accurately as instructions coded in text of the font style and size used by NOS. Regardless of coding technique, report ; accuracy was significantly worse for instructions with a high information content level. Subjects indicated a strong ; preference for using iconic missed approach instructions in single pilot IFR conditions.
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• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  FA2E2/A2155
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/8637/dot_8637_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.26 MB]
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:2d882e3c0ef245e2e30d1bb8c75a64a9b6ea692d0cb56ce6841e2c2f212042cc