Abstract: The Approach Plate Expert System is a knowledge-based decision aid prototype designed to help pilots fly approaches. During the various phases of an approach, pilots must make many decisions and perform diverse tasks in short periods of time, while simultaneously controlling aircraft heading, airspeed, and altitude. This high workload environment contributes to a disproportionate number of aircraft incidents and accidents. To reduce pilot workload, the APES performs calculations, displays approach-critical target values, and uses voice messaging and textual output to provide timely information to the pilot. The APES simultaneously monitors aircraft performance, and informs the pilot of appropriate corrective actions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether use of the APES can significantly improve the situational awareness of pilots by reducing their cognitive workload, and consequently reduce the number of incidents during approach. Phase I of this study focused on capturing the expertise of experienced pilots in the rules of the APES. This paper provides an overview of the design and implementation of the APES Phase I prototype, summarizes preliminary results of this study, and presents conclusions and recommendations based on these results.

Acknowledgements: Development of the APES prototype was performed by Frank W. Moore of Wright State University, under the direction of Dr. Oscar N. Garcia. The APES project is managed by Joseph Cavallaro of Veda, Inc., who also served as the pilot expert. The work is sponspored by WL/FIG, Flight Dynamics Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Software support was provided by Antonio Ayala of WL/FIG and Jason Conaway of Gerystone Technologies, Inc. The human factors psychologist was Mona Toms of Veda, Inc.

Mr. Moore is supported by a Wright State University research grant from Veda, Inc., and a scholarship from the Dayton-Area Graduate Studies Institute (DAGSI).

This work will appear in its entirety in the Proceedings of NAECON, 1996.

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For more information contact: Oscar Garcia (ogarcia@cs.wright.edu).

Last modified: 06/13/96.