Use of Traffic Displays for General Aviation Approach Spacing: A Human Factors Study - Tapa blanda

A flight experiment was conducted to assess human factors issues associated with pilot use of traffic displays for approach spacing. Sixteen multi-engine rated pilots participated. Eight flew approaches in a twin-engine Piper Aztec originating in Sanford, ME, and eight flew approaches in the same aircraft originating in Atlantic City, NJ. The spacing target was a Cessna 206. The traffic display was either a Garmin International MX-20™ (the “Basic” Cockpit Display of Traffic Information, or CDTI) or an MX-20™ modified with features to help the pilot monitor the closing rate, the range and ground speed of the traffic-to-follow, and ownship ground speed (Range Monitor). Two other Equipment conditions were Baseline and Autopilot. Pilots successfully used the displays to maintain the assigned spacing on visual and instrument approaches.