FAA Role in Cockpit Weather Data Link Applications OFCM User Forum Cockpit Display Panel July 26, 2000 Sandra Schmidt FAA/ARW-100

2 Overview Initiatives Display Considerations FAA Role Where are we FAA Review Process FISDL (ARNAV) examples What’s ahead - challenges Questions

3 Initiatives Flight Information Services Policy –Provide Textual and Graphical Weather to Cockpit –Supports Service Areas 3,4,5,6,7, and Government/Industry Partnership –ARNAV/Honeywell Initial Operational Capability Demonstration –Initial products Nexrad, METAR, CATMET,

4 Display Considerations A picture = 1000 words … if Cockpit displays open door for improved safety and flight efficiency by providing “Big Picture” Allows pilots to make early decisions for avoidance, diversion or flight cancellation, if –Pilots know and understand the quality and limitations of the cockpit weather products –Thus need User Education and Training, Guidance for Operational Use Training especially important with direct access to data –Need to know both what the data is and what the data is not

5 Display Considerations (Con’t) Cockpit Displays open door for improved communications between pilots and Flight Service, Air Traffic, and/or Dispatch, if –All are working from products derived from same/consistent data sources (data/information parity) –All understand and use common methods for displaying and describing products –Thus, Need Standards

6 FAA Role Standards - for cockpit processing and display –Need to consider and be consistent with all other NAS weather applications (ground and cockpit) Guidelines/Authority for Operational Use –Need to consider advances and new technologies in both weather observing and forecasting Training and Education –Need to consider ALL NAS users Pilots Controllers and Specialists Dispatchers

7 Where Are We Standards –RTCA SC-195: FAA/Industry consensus on display standards in draft FIS-B MASPS –FAA process for reviewing/accepting FISDL cockpit displays Guidelines/Authority for Operational Use –AIM, Section 7 (FISDL description) published –Advisory Circulars drafted (Flt Standards and Aircraft Cert) Limits use to strategic planning (weather avoidance) Training and Education –AIM, Section 7 (FISDL description) published –Brochures distributed at Sun ‘N Fun and Oshkosh

8 FAA Review Process Key items considered: –Is the product applicable for aviation use? –Is the product based on approved aviation weather sources? –Was the product “professionally” developed including aviation meteorologists, especially if a forecast product? –Is the display compliant with applicable standards (i.e., RTCA, SAE, ICAO)? –Are minimum display elements intuitive and easy to interpret

9 FAA Review Process (Con’t) Key items considered (Con’t): –Could display cause pilot misunderstanding due to: Complexity, Non-standard use of colors, labels Incorrect overlay with other displays –Are education and training materials sufficient to enable effective use of new product? –Does FISDL Service Provide quality assurance process include product monitoring and capability to discover and correct deficiencies?

10 FISDL Examples - ARNAV Regional NEXRAD

11 FISDL Examples - ARNAV 200 Nautical Mile NEXRAD

12 FISDL Examples - ARNAV Full Text METAR Report

13 What’s Ahead - Challenges Cockpit Workload and Human Factors Studies –Simulations and Flight Evaluations NASA AWIN FAA CAPSTONE and Safe Flight 21 Data Applications and Operational Assessments –E-PIREP/GA Automet (downlink and crosslink) –Tactical versus Strategic Uses