No Safety Advantage on Glass Cockpit

[PTK]

Quote: orangemtl

Exactly, Hank. Heck of an engineering feat, to produce a basic framework that carries on for 50 years as in the M20.

Well done, Mr Mooney; well done, indeed.

[M20F]

Glass is certainly better and probably safe in my opinion but the study is flawed.  If a higher proportion of the bad pilot population purchases a glass paneled airplane and the good pilots purchase disproportionally more steam gauges which panel is likely to have more crashes? 

[Cris]

In part I would submit that this issue of glass safety has more to do with initial training than the actual display. A good friend of mine who is an MD participated in Navy studies that showed that under high stress the pilot would revert to their initial training A/C experience. Thus it would make sense that if one were trained in glass cockpits from their inception that pilot would be as safe as one trained on steam guages. The issue is in the latter case muscle memory will override recent experience & the pilot will look for what their initial system training provided. Also consider that the "systems" we all now have are oft times at odds with one another & we need to determine which is correct. Just think of inputing three altimeter settings as an example. I know in my case I specifically looked for an A/C with steam guages because empirically I did not want to take a chance on new systems as I do not fly the way I once did. ie often & to minimums. My favorite radio used to be an ADF which btw I no longer have. No way could I misinterprete that needel!! I also agree that for me needle movement is quicker to interprete. I still struggle with the digital CHT on takeoff as I have to look at it under high workload & recognize the number while staring at it to see the trend as opposed to seeing a needle move towards the red zone with a glance.

This can also be seen in our daily lives. In my office we deal with purchasing agents who do not use the phone. They text or e-mail. For most this is their first job & they are quite comfortable with this style. In fact they object to a phone call which would make things much simpler in many cases. It also allows for a level of rudeness that does not take place with a phone call. With that said they do not even see the rudeness because it is what they have grown up with & the process is not only accepted but preferred. It is a training & experience issue but it almost borders on a cutural clash and inhibits good communications.