The role of automation in the integrated cockpit of tomorrow's general aviation aircraft

In the past 25 years, the general aviation (GA) industry has declined significantly. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has implemented the Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE) program, demonstrating its commitment in reviving the industry. The goal of this program is to incorporate new and emerging technologies into the development of an affordable, safer, and easier to fly GA aircraft. Recent technological advances, in particular, innovative use of global positioning system (GPS) based sensors, have made possible the development of affordable, highly automated flight systems. Depending on automation alone, however, without very careful assessment of human factors could very well complicate, rather than simplify, the flight operations. To achieve AGATE's goal will require additional research to ensure that the technological advances are put to the most advantageous use in the development of an appropriate integrated cockpit for the GA application.