The impact of cockpit instruments on pilot exhaustion

When designing an aircraft, many designers emphasize the importance of automation within the cockpit and neglect a vital component of safe transport, the pilot. Highly automated transports have focused on the design of maximizing the aircraft capabilities; however, questions have been raised about human performance capacity and man-machine interface during flight. In addition to concentrating on the automation aspects of the cockpit, some emphasis needs to be placed on the human aspects of the cockpit. Two essential factors that should be considered are the physical and mental states of the pilot as well as his understanding of the new automated cockpit. This paper will discuss potential types, causes, and affects of pilot exhaustion / fatigue and how the man-machine interface affects the pilot's performance.