(10 marks) Two different automation systems were involved in the accident in the Russian plane and DHL cargo’s mid-air collision; the onboard collision avoidance system, and the collision avoidance system of the air traffic controllers. Explain how the use or misuse, trust or mistrust, of automation may have been implicated in this accident.

Overall:

• Planes were too close together,
• Policy over use of TCAS vs. Controllers. Both planes were using TCAS at the same time, which system goes first to order descend?

ATC:

• Trust may have decreased their vigilance (i.e. automation overtrust)
• Automation misuse made them give shorter warning time
• Trusted the onboard automation,
• Unable to perform with system being shutdown

Onboard Automation:

Cargo plane:

· Trusted and acted upon it’s automated system.

· Overtrust , followed automation with confirming course of Russian plane

Russian Plane:

· Mistrust, didn’t follow TCAS advice.

· Overtrust in ATC + ATC automation

· Didn’t know which to trust?

After all automation this is dumb and dutiful automation.