Enhancing Mission Debriefing Programs for Combat Pilots through User-Centered Design

Objective: This study aims to improve the combat pilot mission debriefing program by applying a User-Centered Design (UCD) methodology to enhance usability and operational effectiveness.<br/><br/>Background: Mission debriefing for combat pilots is a critical component of flight operations, facilitating the systematic evaluation of mission outcomes, the extraction of tactical insights, and the refinement of future mission planning. However, current mission debriefing programs often fail to reflect the actual needs and operational context of pilots, resulting in procedural inefficiencies and usability challenges.<br/><br/>Method: User requirements were collected through semi-structured interviews with combat pilots, followed by thematic analysis to extract key needs. Based on these findings, a prototype was developed through iterative design using both storyboards and User Interface (UI) mockups. The usability of the prototype was assessed through heuristic evaluations with combat pilots and human factors experts, and functional priorities were analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).<br/><br/>Results: Thematic analysis revealed three primary needs and nine detailed user requirements, which informed the identification of ten key system functions for inclusion in the prototype. The heuristic evaluation indicated usability issues in the interface design of the prototype, particularly concerning visibility of system status, error prevention, aesthetic quality, and the availability of user assistance. Additionally, the AHP results highlighted integrated visualization and access to flight control data as the most highly prioritized system functions.<br/><br/>Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the UCD methodology in systematically improving mission debriefing programs for combat pilots.<br/><br/>Application: The proposed design approach offers practical implications for the development and enhancement of systems across various application domains.