Flightdeck Automation Training Questionnaire -Reply
Geoffrey McCarthy (GMCCARTHY_at_FALCON.AL.WPAFB.AF.MIL)
Mon, 02 Dec 1996 10:11:24 -0500
I have 2 comments re your survey: an extensive survey of airline
pilots regarding their attitudes to automation was done undre the
auspices of the Intl Assoc of Airline Pilots Associations (IFALPA) by
the psychology dept at Farnborough UK and published in Av Sp Env Med
isn 92, I believe. the answers to most of your questions can be
found in the results of that survey. Secondly, this survey suffers
from 2 serious flaws: the respondent population and the design of the
questions. By definition, the population of pilots on this 'net group
is non-random; your survey is thus biased at the outset. ( Just as
using the anonymous reports to the FAA regarding fatigue is an
indefensible reason for rule-making: how many others are *not*
affected!? ) And, several of the questions are "double-barreled"
with more than one idea to decide. I write this as one who has
designed my share of surveys in the past, only to have them shredded
by the experts. Nonetheless, it's an important topic.