Abstract: Pilots flying the Boeing 757/767 for a large US-based airline
responded to a survey containing 16 attitude probes concerning autoflight
automation. Their responses indicate that pilots feel more comfortable with
automation as their experience of automation increases. Comparing their
responses to those obtained by Earl Wiener a decade ago at another carrier
reveals remarkable stability in the community of airline pilots flying this
airplane. A cross-correlational analysis of the attitude probes shows that
pilots group the probes in terms of facilitation of and interference with the
job of flying. This analysis also suggests that pilots are concerned about
challenges to pilot authority. A cross-correlational analysis of the pilots
reveals variability among the pilots in the dimensions of ``discomfort
with automation'' and ``automation as magic''.
