Using Ecological Interface Design for Energy Management During Idle-Thrust Approaches

Alternative approach procedures are being developed, in order to create aircraft operations that have less impact on the environment. In these low-power, low-noise approaches, level flight segments are avoided, and low or flight idle thrust settings are used until the aircraft reaches a stabilization point at low altitude, close to the runway. Electronic automation tools and handbook charts are currently tested and used in these procedures. This paper takes a different approach, and applies the principles of Ecological Interface Design to create interfaces that enable the pilot to fly these procedures in a flexible manner. Interfaces for two of these procedures, the Free-Path Total Energy Approach (FPTEA) and the Modified Three-Degree Approach (MTDA) were developed and evaluated in a fixed-base flight simulator. Pilots were able to plan and fly the approach with both displays, and indicated that the displays provided good awareness of the approach.