THE IMPACT OF COCKPIT INSTRUMENTS ON PILOT EXHAUSTION

When designing an aircraft, many designers emphasize the importance of automation within the cockpit and neglect a vital component of safe t ransport, the pilot. Highly automated transports have focused on the d esign of maximizing the aircraft capabilities; however, questions have been raised about human performance capacity and man-machine interfac e during flight. In addition to concentrating on the automation aspect s of the cockpit, some emphasis needs to be placed on the human aspect s of the cockpit. Two essential factors that should be considered are the physical and mental states of the pilot as well as his understandi ng of the new automated cockpit. This paper will discuss potential typ es, causes, and affects of pilot exhaustion/fatigue and how the man-ma chine interface affects the pilot's performance.