Integrating Uncertified Information From The Electronic Flight Bag Into The Aircraft Panel: Impacts On Pilot Response

Many pilots utilize portable electronic flight bags (EFB) as supplemental sources of information on the flight deck. Because EFB applications often obtain data from different sources than the certified systems displayed in the aircraft panel, there is a potential for the EFB and onboard systems to simultaneously show pilots information that conflicts. As manufacturers explore integrating uncertified EFB information into the aircraft panel, there is a need to understand the impact of information conflicts on pilot response. A simulation study with Boeing 737 pilots was conducted to examine how level of integration of uncertified information into the aircraft panel impacts pilot response to information conflicts between an uncertified EFB source and approved sources of information on the flight deck. The results indicate that as uncertified EFB information became more integrated into the panel, participants were more likely to both detect and investigate information conflicts between approved and uncertified sources.