128 Joint Cognitive Systems
Pilots developed strategies to cope with the clumsiness and complexities. For
example, data indicate that pilots tend to become proficient or maintain their
proficiency on a subset of modes or options. As a re sult, they try to manage th e
system within these stereotyp ical responses or p aths, underutiliz ing system
functionality. The results also showed that pilots tended to abandon the flexible but
complex modes of automation and switch to less automated, more direct means of
flight control, wh en the pace of operations increased (e.g., in crowded terminal
area s where the frequency of changes in instruc tions from air traffic control
increase) . Note that pilots speak of this tactic as “escaping” f rom the automati