Change blindness in pilot perception of METAR symbology

• We assessed General Aviation (GA) pilots' perception of change in METAR symbols.
• We measured pilots' flight behavior, cognitive engagement, and decision-making.
• Symbology affects pilots' perception of METAR change and cognitive engagement.
• Change detection varies credibly between different symbology renderings.

ObjectiveTo assess General Aviation (GA) pilots' perception of changes in aviation routine weather report (METAR) symbols.MethodSixty instrument-rated GA pilots were randomly assigned to one of three METAR symbology groups. We assessed pilots' ability to detect changes to the METAR symbols during a simulated flight, and examined the relationship between detection performance and pilots' flight behavior, cognitive engagement, and decision making.ResultsDepending on the symbology, pilots varied considerably in their overall detection of METAR symbol change during flight. Pilots who detected the METAR-symbol changes differed in their cognitive engagement compared to pilots who did not detect the changes.ConclusionWeather presentation symbology affects pilots' perception of symbol change and cognitive engagement.Relevance to industryThe simulation outcome provides important data on the perception of weather-presentation symbology important to the design and optimization of cockpit weather displays.