A Practical Method for Human Factor Assessment Scenario Development

To improve aircraft flight deck human-machine interface design and to demonstrate the compliance of human-machine interfaces related airworthiness regulation, human machine interface evaluation should be implemented during the whole design phases. Traditional human machine interface evaluation means always subject to data collection method and authenticity of assessment scenario. Base on this fact, “scenario-based” human factor assessment is essential and highly recommended methodology. The “scenario-based” approach is a methodology that involves a sample of various flight crew members that are representative of the future users, being exposed to real operational conditions in a test bench or a simulator, or in the aeroplane. Assessment scenarios designing is crucial part for the “scenario-based” Methodology. This paper proposed a practical scenario development method, which includes the scenarios development processes, development principles and methods for defining trigger events. Based on the method proposed, the assessment scenarios can be well designed to identify any potential deviations between the expected behaviour of flight crew and the activities of the flight crew that are actually observed, which helps to discover the design induced flight crew error and demonstrate the compliance of specific airworthiness regulation.