Pilot information requirements for improved in-flight icing decisions

The influence of potential information regarding in-flight icing conditions on pilot decision-making was investigated to define functional requirements of both forecasting and remote-sensing systems. Potential icing information and display features were manipulated in a web-based experiment which involved 230 pilots. Display features included: a graphical plan view depiction of icing severity, vertical view depiction, single and multiple icing severity levels as well as sensor range, were varied in a part-task simulation experiment. Using information from each display, pilots were presented with a set of four flight scenarios and probed on their routing decisions and comfort level with those decisions. The experiment also included a subjective display preference evaluation. Results show that all of the displays improved pilot decision-making over existing text-based icing information. Displays which included vertical depiction of icing conditions were found to support improved decision-making over those displays which only presented horizontal depiction. Sensor range was not found to be a strong factor in the experiment; however the minimum range tested was 25 nautical miles, which may be in excess of current technical capabilities. The depiction of the severity of icing conditions was not found to be as important as accurate information on the location of icing conditions.