Guidelines for NextGen Auditory Displays

The Next-Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) represents a major reconfiguration of the National Airspace System (NAS) within the United States by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over the coming years. This document reviews auditory display design approaches and requirements for NextGen flight decks and air traffic control workstations. While some aspects of auditory alert design are well understood, the overall design of auditory displays must be considered from the perspective of the totality of auditory input to the listener, including speech, alerting signals, and noise. Recommendations for best practices and future research needs specific to NextGen auditory displays are given.