An industry study has provided a conclusive demonstration that head up displays (HUDs) offer a significant improvement in viewing conditions over conventional electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) displays in a cockpit smoke environment.
Marconi Avionics' study programme for civil air transport aircraft investigated the operation of its commercial Visual Guidance System (VGS) HUD in a smoke-filled cockpit.
The study is part of a series of initiatives designed to investigate new technologies and systems, such as the Marconi VGS, and their impact on safety and operations for commercial air transport operators.
The study, conducted by Dr Jim Blanchard, professor of Human Factors at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, was designed to assess the relative viewability and usability of new generation commercial HUDs and conventional head-down EFIS displays in a cockpit filling with smoke resulting from an electrical fire or short.
Source: Flight Daily News
