Air Transport Pilots' Information Priorities for Surface Moving Maps

Abstract

The use of a surface map display for operations on or near the airport surface (taxi out, takeoff, final approach and landing, taxi in) is expected to enhance safety. There is a lack of research, however, detailing how the airport surface should be depicted to air transport pilots during taxi operations. In order to address this question, an information analysis was conducted in which air transport pilots provided self-reported ratings of need for display elements found on current airport diagrams or made available on prototype surface map displays for operations on or near the airport surface. The ratings highlighted the value of presenting runway location and traffic information across all operational phases and showed the changing utility for display elements across different phases of operations. Comparison of the air transport pilot ratings with general aviation pilot ratings showed general agreement as to which display elements were of high value. Differences between the two groups were largely attributable to differences in the nature of operations.