Contributor - Business Aviation

Mario Pierobon

Pilot workload management is recognized as an&nbsp;important subject in initial and recurrent training, as is&nbsp;crew resource management (CRM). Improvements in pilot workload management over the years have been supported by constantly upgraded automation solutions in flight decks. Aircraft OEMs&nbsp;are continuing this trend towards flight deck automation with the aim of improving the efficiency of flight operations and the level of business aviation safety.
Gulfstream’s newest aircraft, the G700, will feature active control sidesticks on its Symmetry Flight Deck and also offer a runway overrun awareness and alerting system (ROAAS), as well as a predictive landing performance system (PLPS). Symmetry lessens the workload for pilots, thereby improving their ability to fly efficiently through an increasingly complex global airspace system.
“The flight deck includes active-control sidesticks and an extensive amount of touchscreen technology, which make it easier and more intuitive for pilots to interface with the aircraft systems. Also&nbsp;standard to the Gulfstream G700&nbsp;is the PLPS. This system gives pilots advanced warning of potential runway excursions so they can adjust approaches or go around,”&nbsp;said Gulfstream.
From a pilot workload management point of view, Symmetry, which is based on the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics platform, allows aircraft start-up and taxi in less than 10 minutes on the G700. In addition to active control sidesticks (ACS) and 10 touchscreen interfaces, it features EVS III and synthetic vision, pedestal-mounted cursor control devices, dual wide-format and full-time standby displays, auto-brakes with multiple settings, RDR 4000 3-D weather radar, and new ergonomic crew seats, according to Gulfstream.
“With the ACSs, active force feedback provides classic airplane control feel and cueing, and the simulation of mechanically linked sticks prevents simultaneous pilot input. The ACSs are back-driven by the autopilot to provide visual indication of control inputs and surface position, and they are ergonomically placed and oriented for natural pilot arm resting position,”&nbsp;said Gulfstream.
Symmetry also streamlines the interface with the flight deck by significantly reducing the number of switches with 10 touchscreen interfaces. Touchscreen redundancy improves dispatch reliability, while intelligent input-recognition software filters out erroneous inputs with intuitive phase-of-flight capability, according to Gulfstream.
<h2>Airbus Explore Autonomous Tech</h2>
Meanwhile, Airbus is engaged in studies on operational patterns for flight crew on long-range flights. These studies are ongoing and&nbsp;based on a minimum of two operating crew per flight, and they are being undertaken in conjunction with the regulatory authorities and airline partners.
“With safety and social acceptance being top priorities, our mission is not to move ahead with autonomy but to explore autonomous technologies alongside technologies in materials, electrification, connectivity, and more,”&nbsp;an Airbus spokesperson said. “In doing so, we are able to analyze the potential of these innovations to enhance future operations, and at the same time, leverage these opportunities to further improve aircraft safety while ensuring today’s unprecedented levels are maintained.”
According to Airbus, although fully autonomous aircraft are still many years away, urban air mobility vehicles are proving to be a valuable option to start the rollout of self-piloting aircraft operations.
“New urban air mobility vehicles like Vahana have been designed to integrate self-piloting functionalities from the start. This is because flying taxi missions involve short, point-to-point flights along a restricted selection of routes using limited landing infrastructure, thus making urban air vehicles ideal for testing self-piloting operations in aircraft. Although the technology is still not mature enough to transport passengers, autonomy in aircraft operations will undoubtedly be shaped by self-piloting, flying taxi demonstrators like Vahana,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Airbus.
No precise calendar exists for these new technologies, which are not fully mature, according to Airbus. “Based on technology availability and maturity, the first potential application of autonomous technologies might be single-pilot operations and only during the cruise phase,”&nbsp;the Airbus spokesperson said.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

OEMs Focus on Pilot Workload Management, Reduced Crew Operations

Innovations from Gulfstream and Airbus show an emphasis on pilot workload management.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?

AINsight: You Can (and Should) Always Go Around

Kerry Lynch

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Most major manufacturers will be at static this year

NBAA-BACE Taking Shape with Expanded Program, Most OEMs

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers

GAO Wants High Schoolers To Take Mechanic General Test

Charlotte Bailey

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Evolving AI-augmented simulator-based approach to ‘gamify’ learning 

Saab Shaking Up Gripen Training with Project Skynapse 

Howard Hardee

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Spirit AeroSystems workers give Leeham News and Analysis the inside track 

Cutting 'Traveled Work' Delays At Spirit Critical To 737 Output

Jessica Reed

Michel Denis was named CEO of Daher,  Steve Varsano president of Flexjet, and Robert Sumwalt was the next Wright Trophy recipient

People in Aviation —September 2026

Charles Alcock

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Austrian manufacturer has yet to say which rotorcraft types it will support 

Axis Announces Plans for Helicopter Training Systems

AIN Staff

In a Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit (CALS) roundtable on retention, an aviation staffing expert and flight department leaders traded hard-won lessons on money, culture, and knowing who you’re really competing with.

More In Training and Workforce