The Effects of NEXRAD Graphical Data Resolution and Direct Weather Viewing on Pilots' Judgments of Weather Severity and Their Willingness to Continue a Flight

Details

• Creators:
  Beringer, Dennis B. ; Ball, Jerry D.
• Corporate Creators:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Office of Aerospace Medicine
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Airline pilots
  • Cockpit resource management
  • Decision making
  • Flight characteristics
  • Graphics
  • Judgment (Human characteristics)
  • Radar images
  • Weather conditions
  • NEXRAD Display Resolution
  • Cockpit Weather Displays
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT/FAA/AM-04/5
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Right Statement:
  Public Domain
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation. Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
• Abstract:
  A study was conducted to determine how variations in displayed NEXRAD weather data resolution interact with the pilot's direct view of weather. Pilots (32) were assigned to one of four groups; 8km, 4km, or 2km resolution, and a baseline condition without NEXRAD imagery. Each flew the simulator from Santa Rosa, NM, with the intent to land at Albuquerque. Heavy precipitation moved into the area during the flight, and pilots were required to decide, using both the NEXRAD data and their out-the-window view, whether to continue or to divert to an alternate airport. Pilots spent more time looking at higher-resolution images than at the lower-resolution ones. Baseline- and 2km-condition pilots deferred their decisions longer than did the other two groups. Posttest NEXRAD image judgments reinforced the notion that higher-resolution images are likely to encourage pilots to continue flights with the expectation that they can fly around or between significant weather features. The presence of out-the-window viewable weather phenomena was seen to have a significant effect on how pilots regarded the NEXRAD data.
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/58227/dot_58227_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.59 MB]
• Collection(s):
  FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:fee1ea638021263fb4e0edb6f12a044f5ecea9b0698395a473060b21c4594372