ABSTRACT
Altimeters are vitally important in the world of aviation as they are critical for height information; the misreading of these instruments can be costly both financially and in terms of human life. Previous research has shown that particular designs, e.g. three-point altimeters, are extremely susceptible to human error. The experimental study reported here compares three standard types of altimeters for both novice and experienced users. Performance measures include error types and the workload involved in reading the various altimeters. Results show that experience had no effect on the type of errors made, although each altimeter induced a significantly different type of error, as well as perceived workload. It is concluded that more emphasis needs to be placed on using error-tolerant altimeter designs in light aircraft.
