Responses to the attitude probes

On the whole the pilots are positive about automation. The pilots in our sample are even more positive on it than the pilots observed by Wiener 10 years ago were. On two probes, though, our pilots were more negative. They agreed more strongly with the SetupAndManage and ButtonPusher probes. Both of these probes deal with representations of programming the FMCS as distractions from the activity of flying. This change could be a result of a difference in company policy between the two airlines involved. Another possibility is that with increasing density of air traffic over the last decade, the use of this automation now requires more inflight programming or reprogramming of the FMCS.