This paper outlines the aircraft designer's role and problems in airliner flight deck design. The impact of this has a significant effect on the final result, notwithstanding the desires and academic assumptions which are constantly being applied as being the “right” way to carry out this immensely difficult task of trying to please everybody, yet with the restraints of a defined operational role and an economic timescale.

It must be remembered that the “ideal” aircraft would never get off the ground and the over complex aircraft would have a good attempt at staying there.