Aircraft Alerting Systems Criteria Study. Volume II. Human Factors Guidelines for Aircraft Alerting Systems

Human factors literature that describes pilot response characteristics when confronted with aircraft warning, caution, and advisory signals was reviewed. The review covered visual, aural (sounds and voice), tactile, and bimodal alerts. Data obtained therefrom were categorized into (1) non-aircraft-related test results, (2) aircraft-related test results, and (3) military standards/design guidelines so as to establish the applicability of the data and to identify technical areas in which more human factors data relevant to aircraft-alerting systems may be required. Summaries of the literature for (1) factors that affect signal detection, and (2) factors that affect time from detection to response are provided. The results of the review were used to establish preliminary design guidelines for alerting systems in future commercial transport aircraft. (Author)