Non-normal event resolution in-flight can be challenging on the flight crew with increased time pressure, workload, stress. Other competing tasks impose a risk on flight safety and burdens the decision-making process. Pilots rely on checklists to aid in their effort, which in its state-of-the-art form are presented on the dedicated Electronic Checklist (ECL) display for Boeing aircraft and on the Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) system for Airbus aircraft. However, human-induced errors and limitations remain prevalent. Exploring a different approach from other research efforts, this paper proposes a novel design which assumes automated checklist handling as a viable option to reduce workload durning nonnormal events. In a human-in-the-loop experiment with 12 commercial pilots, the design was compared against a reproduced Boeing 787 ECL over two scenarios. A synthetic setup was used, assuming a touch-based Boeing 737-8 flight deck combined with the Boeing 787 state-of-the-art alerting systems and displays. Results indicate significant checklist completion time reductions with the proposed design of 31.3% and 42.0% for an electrical and hydraulic failure, respectively. Experienced workload and situation awareness remained unchanged, though compressed in a shorter time frame. The novel display was positively anticipated by participants but was found to lack automation feedback.

In-flight non-normal events can be rather taxing for a flight crew. Numerous tasks, often competing for attention, need to be handled adequately after which, the best plan of action for the remainder of the flight needs to be determined. In the light of recent developments towards reduced crew operations, the demand for reducing workload has become apparent. This requires us to rethink the role of the pilot, which to the authors perspective is mainly one of a flying and flight plan manager. System management is a function that can be assigned to automation. Automation on modern plane often already monitors systems more accurate and faster than pilots can every do. However, in this study we explore the potential checklist step reduction if, the automation will go one step further. Namely, automatically execute reconfiguration steps that do not affect flight characteristic. In total, 39% of the checklist items are potential candidates for this new automation. Average checklist size can be reduced to 4, compared to the current average of 6.5 items per checklists. This result does not provide us with an estimated time saving. Although, the result seems promising to reduce the workload on the flight crew. This exploration can be followed-up by a study to estimate the potential time savings. Besides this improvements can be made to reduce the length of the informative statements and implications on the flight plan can be presented in a more efficient manner.