NTL Record

Title NextGen Flight Deck Data Comm : Auxiliary Synthetic Speech Phase II
Record ID 55383
Personal Name
Creator
Lennertz, Tracy; Sparko, Andrea L.; Mattson, Amanda; Burki-Cohen, Judith
Source 286p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Human Factors Division
Publisher John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Publication Date 20150700
Language English
Abstract Data Comm—a text-based controller-pilot communication system—is expected to yield several NextGen safety and efficiency benefits. With Data Comm, communication becomes a visual task, and may potentially increase head-down time on the flight deck as crews interact with the display. This study examined the feasibility of supplementing Data Comm with synthetic speech in commercial, en-route operations. To this end, 32 air-transport pilots (16 flightcrews) flew two experimental conditions in a Boeing 737-800 fixed-base simulator. In one condition, Data Comm was implemented with a text-only display, and, in the other it was implemented with a text display and synthetic speech that annunciated each message (text+speech). Results indicated that the text+speech display aided the performance of flightcrews compared to text only, without introducing additional complications. Relative to the text-only display, the text+speech display yielded less head-down time. Flightcrews did not delay opening or acknowledging a text+speech message when the party line was active. The majority of pilots reported that the text+speech display was easy to use, helpful, and not distracting; however, this acceptance was attenuated in major-airline pilots. Taken together, these results provide preliminary guidance for aircraft certification regarding the use and implementation of synthetic speech on the flight deck.
Rosap ID dot:12217
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/12217
TRT Terms Advanced automation systems; Air traffic control; Data communications; Voice communication; Human factors; Performance measurement; Head up displays; Air traffic controllers; Flight decks; Speech synthesis; Visual display units
General Subjects Data Comm; Synthetic speech; NextGen; CPDLC
Classification NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Human Factors;
NTL - AVIATION - Air Traffic Control;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Aviation Safety/Airworthiness;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
1577540
Contract Number FA06C4
Report Number DOT-VNTSC-FAA-14-15; DOT/FAA/TC-14/34
Availability Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/55000/55300/55383/DOT-VNTSC-FAA-14-15.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository