Design Criteria for Aircraft Warning, Caution, and Advisory Alerting Systems

An overabundance of warning, caution, and advisory alerts will exist in the cockpits of future commercial transport aircraft if current cockpit design trends are not altered. Coupled with this proliferation of alerts is a lack of correlation between alert-type applications and significance. The potential for pilot saturation and/or confusion exists with these alerts. A study was performed for the FAA to identify these problem areas and to develop design guidelines for alerting systems in new aircraft. Recommendations resulting therefrom include: 1) improve pilots' audio/visual environment by minimizing exposure to unnecessary alerts; 2) incorporate central alphanumeric alert readout devices; and 3) improve categorization and/or prioritization of alerts.