The Challenge of the Automated Flight Deck

By Captain Tim Rawlings, 17 Wing Canadian Forces Air Navigation School

The original version of this paper, by Capt Tim Rawlings and (then) Capt Don Barnby, working in Air Force Training and Central Flying School  respectively, deserves much of the credit as the catalyst for the Air Force’s automation strategy. The Air Division aircraft automation philosophy has now been developed and published, and experienced outside assistance has been engaged and has already started visiting a number selected Wings and units to gain an understanding of our current policies, as well as observe our automation awareness and airmanship. The contractors who have been engaged have done similar
work with the United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, and have ensured that those organizations’ tactical and operational
imperatives have been respected even as they changed themselves to exploit the capabilities of their automated cockpits. Following the development of appropriate pan-Air Force automation policies and
the amendment of our orders, the Air Force’s automation strategy will examine type-specific procedures and practices for our specific operations. It is important that the cascading nature of this change strategy be respected to ensure that when new standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists are re-published or amended, they
reflect and incorporate the overall philosophy and the new orders.
Our Air Force’s cascading top-down automation

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Capt Rawlings received his wings in October 1990 and earned his airline transport pilot licence in 1997. He has accumulated over 6,000 hours total time (military and civilian). He has flown the CH136 Kiowa
helicopter at 427 and 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, and his fixed-wing time includes 2,500 hours on CT114 Tutor at 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School and 431 (Air Defence) Squadron while 1,800
hours were logged on the Airbus 319/320/321 with Air Canada. Capt Rawlings is currently at 17 Wing Canadian Forces Air Navigation School flying the CT142 Dash-8. Other achievements and functions held include Deputy Commanding Officer, Flight Commander, Chief Standards Officer, A2 instructional category, and staff officer at Division HQ.