Comparing Text and Graphics in Navigation Display Design

Thirty-six participants were tested in a flight simulator on their ability to decide which of two airports was furthest from a storm front, based on the manner in which information was presented on a navigational display. Results indicated that use of a moving-map display was superior to either a tabular, text-only display or a text display with an additional orienting symbol. In addition, in contrast to an earlier study (Williams, 1999), pilots performed better using a north-up map than when using a track-up map. Discussion of the results focuses on recommendations for moving-map displays and the display requirements for support of the nearest-airport function within a navigational display in particular.