ABSTRACT
This chapter explores some aspects of cognitive work analysis (CWA) in the design of a new communications planning system. It introduces communications planning with a Rich Picture to show how pilots think about planning. The functional purpose of the communications planning aspect of mission planning system (MPS) is to 'support communications within the aircraft'. The chapter presents the final version of the abstraction hierarchy (AH) for the communications planning aspect of MPS and an example of the Rich Picture for the concept of air-to-ground communications. This is followed by analysis of the current system. The chapter also presents proposal for new system and compares the current and proposed approaches. To compare the proposed system with the current MPS software tool two simulations were created; a simple one comprising four contactable airspace authorities and a complex on containing eight contactable airspace authorities. Finally, the chapter draws conclusions for CWA, Rich Pictures and MPS.
