The Effects of Taxiway Light Geometry, Color, and Location on Position Determination by Pilots

Abstract

Lack of perspective cues or abundance of lights in airport taxiway areas have been problems leading to pilot disorientation when navigating on the airport surface. Possible human factors solutions include the introduction of perspective cues through shaped lights and the reduction of extraneous light signals with shielded lights. Thirty-two pilots participated in a laboratory simulation to evaluate the effects of taxiway light geometry, color, and location on determination of position. Two new systems (shelded and shaped lights) were tested against two traditional systems (blue edge lights and green centerline lights). Subjects had to determine their position on an airport map from static, out-the-cockpit views. Contrary to expectations, the two new systems did not lead to improved performance over the traditional systems in this simulation. In fact, the pattern of means suggested that performance was better with the traditional systems than with the new ones. In the case of the number of correctly identified positions, these differences were sigtllficant. Subjects' confidence and their actual performance in position determination did not correlate. Implications for studies investigating airport surface navigation systems are discussed.