Federal Aviation Administration Oral Presentations for Engineers Presented

Federal Aviation Administration Oral Presentations for Engineers Presented to: Core Job class By: Bob Stoney, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office Date: TBD XXXXX

Oral Presentations--outline • • • Why we do them Preparation Style Handling Questions Visuals Summary Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 2 2

Why we do oral presentations • • Quick Allow for questions and interaction Arguably best communication method You will do many, many during your career Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 3 3

Preparation • • Consider your audience--tailor your pitch Research--be an expert Outline and Prioritize (be ready to discard) Anticipate questions, prepare backup material • Do visual aids (more later) • Practice, Practice • Preflight--equipment, chairs, lights, etc. Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 4 4

Audience analysis • What’s the question? • Who is the audience? – Job – Responsibilities – Vested interests • • Time limits Knowledge base Expectations “Answer the mail” Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 5 5

Format • • • Begin with an overview Introduction--set the stage, avoid fluff Body (“the meat”) should be the emphasis Conclude and recommend as a summary Typical: 20 minutes + 10 for questions--DON’T GO OVER – – Intro ~5 minutes Body ~12 Summary (Conclude and Recommend) ~2 Questions ~10 Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 6 6

Presentation style—some basics • Relaxed, confident, knowledgeable (don’t memorize) • Comfortable pace (throw out something if rushed) – One slide per minute • Eye contact • Use of voice--speak up, slow down • Use pointer sparingly • Don’t read from slides • Use of rostrum Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 7 7

Presentation style (cont’d) • Notes--several ways – – Powerpoint generated notes pages Handwritten Look down at computer Look up at overheads • Personal appearance – – Clothes Use of hands Posture Nervous habits (videotape yourself) • Slide flipping Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 8 8

Handling Questions • • Good ones (breathe, think) Bad ones Your boss never asks a bad one If required: “I’ll get back to you” – Make a note (you or someone else) – Recap at the end • a chance to shed a few • pickup forgotten ones • Make darn sure you do get back to people • In a group, help out • “Any questions? ” ----- Wait 9 seconds Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 9 9

Visual aids • Bulletize • Use few words – “rule of sixes”. . . six bullets/slide. . . six words/bullet • You don’t have to use them all the time • Slides should not distract from you – They’re the aids, you’re the presenter • • One idea per visual Proofread, make sure it’s factual Dim lights only as necessary Consider videos, flip charts, models Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 10 10

Font style • Use big enough font--28 point is recommended – 18 point font minimum – 16 point and below is just too small (depends on conditions) • IT’S HARDER TO READ WORDS THAT ARE ALL CAPS, THAN IT IS TO READ THINGS THAT ARE SENTENCE CASE. • It’s harder to read things that are all caps, than it is to read words that are sentence case. • Use of color Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 11 11

Example The navigation control unit (NCU), located on the center console behind the control stick, was evaluated for accessibility during low-level navigation flight. The NCU contained 10 switches with a total of 37 different positions selectable, several of which were used frequently during normal low-level navigation. The control stick obscured most of the NCU from view, and the pilot was required to lean forward and to one side to read and actuate switches on the NCU. The inaccessible location of the NCU will force the attack pilot to divert his attention inside the cockpit for an inordinate amount of time to interface with the navigation system during low-level target ingress, greatly increasing the risk of loss of situational awareness and ground impact and is therefore not compliant to 14 CFR XX. YYY. Obviously not the right answer Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 12 12

Navigation control panel • The Navigation control panel was evaluated for accessibility during low level operations. • Located on the center console, behind the control stick • Contained 10 switches, total of 37 positions selectable, several used during low level • Control stick obscured most of the NCU from view • Pilot had to lean forward and to one side to read and actuate switches • During low level flight, the NCU will take pilot attention away from ground avoidance tasks--loss of SA and subsequent ground impact • Remote location of NCU is not compliant to 14 CFR XX. YYY Bulletized, but. . . . Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 13 13

Navigation Control Panel • • Located on center console behind stick 10 switches, many used during low level Obscured by stick Pilot had to: – Unlock harness – Lean forward and to side • • Took too long Loss of SA--ground impact Remote location of NCU Not compliant to XX. YYY Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 14 14

(Picture = 1000 words) • Remote location of NCU is not compliant Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 15 15

Avoid busy slides Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 16 16

Graphs: take time to explain them Longitudinal Stick Force, Fs, lb Regulatory boundary Time, t, sec Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 17 17

Summary • Audience--research. Answer the mail • Format--start with the important stuff and work out • Visual aids--complementary • Personal Presentation • Expert PRACTICE • Stage Fright Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 18 18

Backups and/or additional topics Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 19 19

Other topics that could be included • “Action captions” on slides (give examples) Oral Presentations for Engineers Federal Aviation Administration 20 20