Why the FMC/MCDU is hard to train and difficult to use

Researchers and airlines have identified the Flight Management Computer (FMC) and its Multifunction control and Display Unit (MCDU) as difficult to learn and use. This can affect the amount of functionality that can be trained, the length of the training footprint, and the cost of training. This paper describes an analysis of 102 mission tasks using features of the Boeing B777 MCDU. The analysis identified an over-reliance on memorized action sequences that must be learned during training and then recalled during line operations. This over-reliance on memory may explain the difficulties in learning and using the automation. Implications for training of these systems and the design of new user interfaces are discussed.