ABSTRACT
In this chapter we review the main factors that currently determine the structure of operator document systems. Industry, corporate and operational requirements provide the fundamental criteria on which document system decisions are made. Although current experience in developing and maintaining documents is largely paper-based, many high-level requirements (particularly those related to operational needs for safety-and time-critical information) pertain equally to electronic and paper-based document systems. Further, these requirements tend to call out the defining features unique to information systems in aviation operations. Information access and usability in complex, dynamic and high-risk operational environments often drive the structural tradeoff decisions that are the topic of this chapter. While the exact form of the tradeoffs changes dramatically when paper documents transition to electronic media, many key determining factors remain the same. In the following sections, we will identify the requirements and limitations that impact the development of operating document systems and discuss the evolution of structural tradeoffs as paper systems become electronic. In focusing on structural changes brought about by technology advances in information systems, we will leave the more general guidance for developing and maintaining document systems to other document design references (Adamski and Stahl, 1997; Degani and Wiener, 1994; FAA, 1994; FAA, 1995; NASA/FAA, 2000).
