Abstract
This paper presents a proposal to research how cockpit design and instrumentation can help minimize fatigue-related accidents. The literature review reveals that the growing number of air accidents signals the need to prioritize solution-promising initiatives more than ever. The human factor is a significant issue of concern, especially fatigue. While the robust suggestions have signified the need for improved, responsive human interfaces, little is known about how plane cockpit designs and instrumentations fulfill this attribute. The proposed research seeks to address this issue by investigating the views of the sampled pilots on how a safe cockpit needs to be designed. The data collection process counts on the use of questionnaires and qualitative analysis of the lived experiences of pilots.
Keywords: Aviation safety, cockpit design, instrumentation, fatigue, human error
Introduction and Background
The place of the aviation industry in the current society cannot be overemphasized. The industry is a driver of the booming air transport sector. According to ICAO (2017), the number of passengers that traveled on scheduled air services has been rising over the years. For example, in 2017, the number reached 4.1 billion, representing an increment of 7.2 percent compared to the previous year. The number of departures also increased by 3.1 percent compared to 2016, reaching 36.7 million. Meanwhile, the volume of freight also increased. Notably, over 56 million tons of freight was transported using air, representing a 3.6 percent increment compared to the volume recorded in 2016 (ICAO, 2017). Other notable aircraft dependent activities include research and warfare. Altogether, the trends in aviation depict the sector as a critical driver of sustainable development.
Notwithstanding, aviation is characterized by its fair share of challenges that potentially constrain its viability to support sustainable development, with safety being one of the notable issues. The statistics on this issue are documented, and they essentially highlight a burgeoning concern. According to Reuters (2019), the number of lives lost because of plane crashes rose sharply in 2018, with over 500 people losing lives. The estimates show that 2018 had 0.36 fatal accidents per million flights, which is an increase compared to 0.06 per million-flight rate registered in 2017 (Reuters, 2019). This trend potentially creates an allowance to infer that accidents tend to covary with the growing importance of air transport. In essence, aviation safety lends itself to the discussion as a critical problem that cannot be overlooked.
Stakeholders across the world have widely acknowledged this problem. Their responses have spanned the creation of renewed operation protocols, regulations, and even suggestions. The role of human factors in aviation safety, such as fatigue, has been particularly singled out in many safety-facing discussions. Consequently, the related suggestions have partly concerned themselves with how to minimize human errors through system designs. The underpinning school of thought reasons that, since the human factor is a concern inherent to plane safety, there has to be an alternative way in which it can be minimized — and that can be partly through improved human interface design. The cockpit represents a crucial human interface that allows pilots to steer the plane. From the lenses of the school of thought, it is intriguing how well the cockpits are designed to address human factor concerns such as fatigue. What are the areas of weaknesses that need to be addressed? This paper presents a proposal to investigate cockpit design and instrumentation associated with pilot fatigue.
Problem Statement
The growing number of air accidents signals the need to prioritize initiatives that promise safety more than ever. As noted earlier, the human factor is a significant issue of concern, especially fatigue. While the robust suggestions have signified the need for improved, responsive human interfaces, little is known about how plane cockpits fulfill this attribute. In the endeavor to foster safety, the manufacturers are now recognizing the need for involving pilots in the design of the system. This arrangement provides an opportunity for pilots to share their experiences, views, interests, and desires as they appeal to safety, insights that are then integrated into plane designs and instrumentation. While this approach is as objective as feasible, there is a lacuna of knowledge on just how the practice is faring. Consequently, one wonders how cockpits are inclusive to pilots' safety appeals and whether there are weaknesses that need to be addressed.
Research Questions
The primary research question is, how can the cockpit design and instrumentation associated with pilot fatigue be improved to assure aircraft safety from the lenses of pilots? Several related questions are worth considering:
1. Are the cockpits expertly designed to support pilots in enhancing safety?