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:
  Aeronautical Charts Air Pilots Approach Control Human Factors Icons Information Transfer Instrument Approach Procedure Charts Instrument Landing Systems Missed Approach
• 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.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  FA2E2/A2155
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:2d882e3c0ef245e2e30d1bb8c75a64a9b6ea692d0cb56ce6841e2c2f212042cc
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/8637/dot_8637_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.26 MB ]