I am convinced the dashboard of a plane is deliberately kept complex, not for utility, but for perception.
The perception of sophistication. It works.
A quick view of the cockpit can make you feel both overwhelmed and in awe of those who control it. That awe makes you feel relaxed, thinking those in the cockpit must know what they are doing.
But if there is anything I have found to be true, incompetence, and sometimes, stupidity, exists in all professions.
The greatest risk as expected is in the parts of the flight that pilots have more hands-on responsibility – takeoff and landing.
Those in the industry understand this and ensure: planes are designed for minimal input from the pilot, checklists are in place for governance, and a black box is installed for an unbiased record of flight events.
I wonder what would happen when aircraft manufacturers finally simplify the dashboard. Maybe we will no longer be able to see the cockpit, just to keep the aura of mystery.
– Osasu Oviawe