Lessons learned from pilot involvement in ASAS experiments Rob Ruigrok

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Lessons learned from pilot involvement in ASAS
experimentsRob Ruigrok Hans Huisman

• ASAS Thematic Network
• Workshop 3 ASAS - Making it happen, Toulouse

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Contents

• ASAS experiments
• Pilot involvement
• ASAS applications tested
• Data gathered
• Example Responsibility
• Lessons learned
• Finally
• Demonstration

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ASAS Experiments

• MFF ASAS Self-Separation
• MAS-FFAS transitions

FFAS
FL290
FFAS
FL280
MAS
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ASAS Experiments

• MFF ASAS Spacing
• En-route descent

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ASAS Experiments

• MA-AFAS ASAS Spacing
• R/T versus CPDLC
• Automatic versus Manual speed control
• Using Interactive Navigation Display with
  advanced Cursor Control Device.
• Using time-based sequencing merging

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Pilot involvement

• About 25 different pilots in 3 ASAS experiments
  (8 MFF Self-Sep, 8 MFF Spacing, 20 MA-AFAS).
• Current on glass cockpit aircraft (757-200,
  MD-11, 737-300/400/700/800/900 and 747-400).
• Average experience around 6000 hours, minimum 700
  hours, maximum 16500 hours
• The results of these experiments cover their
  average opinion.

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ASAS applications tested

• ASAS Spacing
• Follow (distance time)
• Merge Behind
• Continue/Resume
• Pass Above, Below,Pass Behind, Abeam
• ASAS Self-separation
• climb, en-route,descent
• including transitions

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Data gathered

• During post run questionnaires
• Workload, Acceptability, Events
• Debriefing questionnaires
• ASAS system (CDTI, CDR, Tools), Procedures,
  Responsibility
• Instantaneous Self-Assessment (ISA)
• Workload, Workload peaks

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Example Responsibility

• MFF Self-Separation

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Lessons learned

• Responsibility for separation assurance needs to
  be clear.
• If responsibility is unclear, the procedures need
  to be redesigned.
• Example Transition layer between MAS and FFAS
  removed.
• ASAS applications need to be unambiguous.
• ASAS applications often tested separately. In
  real-life, an ASAS avionics suite involving all
  applications will find its way into the cockpit.
• Example currently Remain Behind in ASAS
  Spacing and ASAS Separation.

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Lessons learned

• ASAS needs to be simple.
• Pilots comment that they have to be able to
  operate it during a 9 hour flight, through
  time-zones, while fighting sleep.
• Example Reduction of ASAS instruction set
  (37gt14) and simplified phraseology proposed.
• Test bad-case and worst-case scenarios.
• Example Pilots question What happens with
  significant weather ?, What happens with
  failures ?, What happens with military
  operations ?, etc.

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Lessons learned

• Pilot input required from very start.
• Pilots sometime have no problem with foreseen
  issues by the ASAS procedure designers, and vice
  versa.
• Example use of callsign for target selection.
• Pilots appear very (fuel)efficiency-minded.
• ASAS procedure should be designed with this in
  mind to increase acceptability benefits.
• Example pilots reduced speed in
  heading-then-follow manoeuvre.

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Lessons learned

• Do not rely on opinion of one pilot.
• Pilots of the same crew sometimes completely
  disagreed on ASAS.
• Example use of priority rules in
  Self-Separation.
• Design for all pilots.
• A senior captain with 16000 hours needs to be
  able to operate it, as well as a flying school
  graduate with 200 hours.
• Example some youngsters are FMS wizzards.

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Finally ...

• A selection of the (many) positive remarks on
  ASAS, recorded during the experiments
• A great system on its way to perfection.
• Looks like this is going to be reality.
• You get something to do as pilot.
• When using this system for a few days, it feels
  like you are using it for years.
• It is an ergonomic strong design.
• Workload was very low, almost boring.
• Almost no difference between flying in MAS or
  FFAS, except for communication with ATC.

ASAS - Making it happen !
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Demonstration

• When this evening, from 1730.
• Where see program.
• What
• ASAS avionics suite
• ASAS Awareness
• ASAS Spacing
• ASAS Separation
• ASAS Self-Separation
• Including pre-liminaryASAS/ACAS integration
• (note exact copy of NLR full-flight simulator
  software on laptop)
• Come and fly yourself all elements of ASAS in
  realistic scenarios

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