A Novel Automated Electronic Checklist for Non-Normal Event Resolution Tasks

Non-normal event resolution in-flight can be challenging on the flight crew with increased time pressure, workload, stress. Other competing tasks impose a risk on flight safety and burdens the decision-making process. Pilots rely on checklists to aid in their effort, which in its state-of-the-art form are presented on the dedicated Electronic Checklist (ECL) display for Boeing aircraft and on the Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) system for Airbus aircraft. However, human-induced errors and limitations remain prevalent. Exploring a different approach from other research efforts, this paper proposes a novel design which assumes automated checklist handling as a viable option to reduce workload durning nonnormal events. In a human-in-the-loop experiment with 12 commercial pilots, the design was compared against a reproduced Boeing 787 ECL over two scenarios. A synthetic setup was used, assuming a touch-based Boeing 737-8 flight deck combined with the Boeing 787 state-of-the-art alerting systems and displays. Results indicate significant checklist completion time reductions with the proposed design of 31.3% and 42.0% for an electrical and hydraulic failure, respectively. Experienced workload and situation awareness remained unchanged, though compressed in a shorter time frame. The novel display was positively anticipated by participants but was found to lack automation feedback.