High-fidelity Task Analysis Identifying the Needs of Future Cockpits Featuring Single Pilot Operation with Large Transport Airplanes

Abstract

This paper presents a high-fidelity task analysis. The analysis represents a bottom up approach. It examines the actions of the standard operating procedures jointly performed by the pilot flying and pilot monitoring operating a large airplane, i.e. an Airbus A320. The analysis of the activities considers the aviate, navigate, communicate and manage relationship, sequential and parallel execution, the related interface and information. The detailed analysis also investigates, how todays multi pilot operations concepts, like the task share of the two pilots, cross-checks or the four-eyes principle are implemented. Based on that, a possible re-assignment of actions is made towards enabling single pilot operation of a large airplane supported by an enhanced assistance. The paper describes the research context, current regulations of multi pilot and single pilot operation, related work, the method and an insight to major results. The depicted results and needs for future developments enabling single pilot operation with large airplanes are discussed.