Perspective format for a primary flight display and its effect on pilot spatial awareness

The authors describe an experimental study in progress which will evaluate pilot spatial awareness in low-visibility conditions for two basic display types: (1) a computer-generated electronic attitude director indicator (EADI) within the conventional glass cockpit flight deck, and (2) a tunnel-in-the-sky perspective display used in place of the EADI. Pilot subjects navigate curved approach trajectories during instrument flight conditions. Their main task is to look in the direction (localize) where they would expect various targets to appear. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a perspective format such as the tunnel display can provide a significant improvement in pilot spatial awareness over conventional format in primary flight displays