Online survey to obtain the views pilots have towards flight deck technologies

 

Participant Information Sheet

Study Title: Online survey of pilot views on flight deck technologies
Researchers: Dr Katie Parnell, Dr Victoria Banks, Dr Katherine Plant, Professor Neville Stanton
ERGO number: 45711                                                                        

Please read this information carefully before deciding to take part in this research.  It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you are happy to participate you will be asked to sign a consent form.

What is the research about?
This study forms part of the Open Flight Deck project. This is a programme which aims to develop and demonstrate an open (i.e. non-proprietary, accessible, standardised) avionics platform for the civil flight deck which supports the introduction of new technologies, software applications and peripheral devices. The project is funded by Innovate UK. 

This study will contribute to the collaboration between project partners GE Aviation and the University of Southampton. This work focuses on the design and evaluation of a Flight management System (FMS) interface that allows the pilot to input nativatigation information pre-flight and update that information during flight in the case of a diversion. This online survey will seek to obtain pilots views on the current Flight Management System (FMS) that they use in the cockpit. This will include obtaining information on what they like about the current system and what they do not like. This will inform future design recommendations for a new FMS interface to be developed by project partners GE Aviation. This method will allow the design requirements to be motivated by users of the system which is important to user centred design.

Why have I been asked to participate?
You have been asked to participate in this research because you are a trained pilotwith a full pilots license. As a pilot, you are required to provide expert knowledge on your requirements and preferences of the flight management system interface within the flight deck. Your insights will inform design recommendations for the development of future FMS designs to be presented within the aircraft cockpit.  

What will happen to me if I take part?
You will be asked to give informed consent to take part in the survey. You will then be asked to provide demographic information related to you pilot experience. Following this you will asked to give responses to questions that will ask for your views on the current FMS that you use in its functionality to enter navigation information pre-flight, as well as to update mid-flight in the case of a diversion.  

The survey will take will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. 

Are there any benefits in my taking part?
By taking part in this research you will be contributing to the development and design of a future flight management system interface. The interface is under development by GE Aviation and the interface is being evaluated and developed with the support of the University of Southampton. The use of pilots to generate expert knowledge in the use and design of the tool will provide a valuable insight into the user requirements of the system before it is made commercially available. 

Are there any risks involved?

There are no risks involved in partaking in this study. If you no longer wish to continue with the survey then you can withdraw and exit the survey at any point. Any data entered will not be recorded or analysed in this case. 

Will my participation be confidential?
The survey will be confidential. The primary researchers will be the only ones who have access to survey responses. Any processing of these files will remove any identifying characteristics. The responses that will be used for the analysis will therefore remain confidential and anonymised. The analysed data, with identifying characteristics removed, will be available to partners GE Aviation and the University of Southampton within the Open Flight Deck Project. 

What happens if I change my mind?
You have the right to withdraw from the study at any point if you do not wish to continue and your responses will not be used in the data analysis. 

What will happen to the results of the research?
Your responses to the questions will be used to inform design requirements for the development of a new interface design for the flight management system with regards to navigation information entry. The raw data files will be securely stored in a file store to which only the primary researchers will have access to. The findings may also be used to inform academic materials such as journal articles. 

What happens if something goes wrong?
In the unlikely case of concern or complaint, please contact the Research Integrity and Governance Manager:
023 8059 5058 
rgoinfo@soton.ac.uk

Thank you for taking the time to read this information sheet and for considering to take part in this research.

Before ticking the box and consenting to take part in the survey make sure you consent to the following: