Pilot Errors Involving Head-Up Displays (HUDs), Helmet-Mounted Displays (HMDs), and Night Vision Goggles (NVGs)

Abstract : Having become aware of difficulties with night vision and display equipment in helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, IDA staff members collected pertinent literature, interviewed aircrews, aeromedical research people, and cockpit designers, and then carried out display simulations. They found serious safety problems associated with the newer techniques of displaying information to aircrews. At highly task-loaded moments, pilots are often stressed that they channelize attention and ignore indications of trouble. Thus, human-factors problems cancel the technological advances being introduced into modern aircraft cockpits. To help solve those problems, the investigators undertook to: appraise the reality and severity of shortcomings in display instrumentation and its use; arrange for specific laboratory research by the Army and the Air Force, followed by tests and demonstrations. They presented their findings and recommendations to the Air Staff and the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, as well as the Army Deputy Under Secretary for Operations Research and the Commander of the Army Aviation Center and his aeromedical staff at Fort Rucker.