FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-20/07

Title and Subtitle: Human Factors Considerations in Using HUD Localizer Takeoff Guidance in Lieu of Currently Required Infrastructure

Report Date: September 2020

Authors: Kratchounova D, Miller L, Choi I, Humphreys M, Mofle TC, Nesmith BL

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to examine the human factors considerations for using HUD with localizer guidance symbology in lieu of currently required infrastructure for lower than standard takeoff minima and within the larger conceptual framework of far domain (runway) and near domain (flight deck) visual cues, HUD guidance symbology, and RVR visibility.

To identify the differential contributions of these factors, three baseline conditions without HUD localizer guidance symbology and two conditions with HUD localizer guidance symbology were used. Currently, only about 30% of the CAT I runways in the NAS are equipped with CLL. Therefore, the human factors considerations in using HUD localizer guidance in lieu of CLL in low visibility conditions were of principal interest.

The results of this study have the potential to inform operational credit changes that would allow more reduced visibility takeoffs and increase the number of viable airports available for takeoff under low visibility conditions. The research was conducted on a Boeing 737-800NG Level D simulator at the FAA Flight Technologies and Procedures Division facility in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Key Words: Head-up Display (HUD), Aviation Human Factors, Crew Workload; Flight Technical Error

No. of Pages: 48