verres vlta emergency requirement research evaluation study building a mental representation...

VERRESVLTA Emergency Requirement Research Evaluation Study

Building a Mental Representation (Situation Awareness) of the aircraft for

Passengers

The Fourth Triennial International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference

Lisbon Conference Centre Portugal 15-18 November 2004



Agenda• VERRES project introduction

• Approach of the study

• Theoretical aspects

• Limitation of present a/c passengers briefing

• Recommendations shaped like a boarding scenario

• Expected effects on Passenger Mental Representation of the flight



VERRES Context



VERRES project

WP1: Configurational aspects for VLTA

WP2: Investigating the requirements of a methodology utilising analysis and

partial testing

WP3: Aspects of occupants safety for VLTA concepts

WP4: Synthesis

WP5: Dissemination



Objective and Approach of the Study

• Objective : identification of the main issues in order to guide future VLTA research or design

• Approach: Bibliographical research (state of the art)

Theoretical aspect Cognitive psychology

Sociological field

Ethology

Past research review

• Make recommendations



Theoretical Appraisal (1/2)

• The information nature and quality are key factors in

the Situation Awareness building

• The SA is built on the basis of acquired knowledge determining the importance given to some information in the present context (prejudice, belief, etc.)

• The SA is threatened by social factors as: lack of group cohesion, lack of leadership lack of common experiences

• In emergency conditions, recent acquired knowledge disappears in aid of familiar knowledge (e.g. the route to exit the plane)



Theoretical Appraisal (2/2)

• Emotion can forbid the access to SA during a given period of time

• Alert phase management is fundamental to build a clear and reassuring SA

• The group affiliation feeling has a reinsuring effect on validity of information and reinforces SA

• The highly structured rituals setting during pre-flight and boarding phases favours

the spatial references

the time based references of the affiliation to the group,

allow the improvement of the emotional factors management



Past researches review key outputs (1/2)

• A lot of passengers continue to pay very few attention to safety briefings (written and oral ones)

• Every moment of attention capacity should be identified to use them properly. An additional safety briefing just before boarding or descent could be an alternative, especially on long haul flights

• Passengers do not feel concerned by the safety information either because :

they overestimate their knowledge of safety aspect, they underestimate their chances of survival,

they see Cabin Crews as the only safety actors possible during an evacuation (it does not worth listening to them),

they do not see the demonstration.



Past researches review key outputs (2/2)

• A lot of recommendations have been already listed. They could be adapted taking into account the VLTA environment demands

• New information means (video, interactive media…) can improve the attractiveness and the attention capture potential of the safety instructions

• Despite safety instructions, passengers still intent to evacuate with their luggage and some personal effects.



Recommendations shaped like a boarding scenario

• First Scene context : Cabin characteristics VLTA cabin divided in several zones Each zone corresponds to a safety gate To each zone correspond a colour or a sign (on the seat, on the

safety door, on the uniform of the CCs, on the boarding card) Each zone is in charge of specific CCs

• First Scene: Passenger Check in At this first stage, passengers know their cabin area symbol

(colour, sign) Passengers who check in first, are assigned to area supposed to

board first They are provided with a bum-bag and asked to put all little

“precious” objects in during all the flight (medicine, glasses, money, passport, jewels...)



Recommendations shaped like a boarding scenario : 2nd scene

• 2nd Scene context : Boarding room characteristics Divided in the same amount of areas as the cabin

Drinks and light foods are proposed to promote conviviality in each area

A set of safety information means are proposed to passengers All the information devices show the location of the areas in the whole

cabin (entrance door, evacuation door of the area) and the safety briefing

All the safety messages are completed by technological advertisements in order to be attractive and reinsuring

• 2nd Scene : Boarding Each passenger is asked to wait to the boarding order of his area. Each zone boards independently The CC in charge of the zone welcomes the passenger and introduces

her/himself as the responsible of the zone The CC invites people to read the safety cards or to give attention to a

safety message



Expected effects on « actors »• The Passengers Situation Awareness should contain

A good mental map of the aircraft with the location of her/his emergency door.

A precise idea of the emergency tasks involved in the evacuation (live jacket, route to reach the door, jumping,...)

A rational idea of the chance to survive and then motivation to be attentive to all the safety information

An affiliation feeling with the passengers supposed to leave the aircraft at the same door (same area).

The CC leadership recognition The CC safety role recognition

• An adapted collective behaviour Ordered evacuation CCs less inclined to move from their doors Organised and spontaneous rescue and safe behaviours



The Fourth Triennial The Fourth Triennial International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research ConferenceResearch Conference

verres vlta emergency requirement research evaluation study building a mental representation...

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