---
title: Dashboards vs Aircraft Cockpits
description: How to compare an executive xcelsius dashboard to an aircraft cockpit.  Written by a pilot and dashboard designer
---

[SAP BW|BOBJ|Project Management Blog ](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog)

# [Dashboards vs Aircraft Cockpits](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/dashboards-vs-aircraft-cockpits)

 Written by [Lonnie D. Ayers, PMP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/author/lonnie-d-ayers-pmp) | Sat, May, 21, 2011 @ 06:28 PM

Recently, on LinkedIn, a question was asked about whether an xCelsius Dashboard is the same as an aircraft cockpit display. As both a Pilot and Flight Engineer (C-130) as well as 10 + year SAP BI vet, I wanted to take a moment and explain how different they are and how their usage is completely different in practice.  In order to [visualize](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/are-you-ready-to-think-grow-rich-mindmap) it, I started by building this mindmap.

 

I have also included a fully working mindmap embedded in this powerpoint which I think explains my view on it.

 

- [dashboard_vs_cockpit.ppt](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hs-fs/hub/118735/file-16652697.ppt)

 

 

 

 

The main [points of difference](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/10-ways-internet-marketing-reveals-inventory-problems) to me are:

1. Most **Aircraft Gauges** and **Indicators** are [real-time](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/does-pci-dss-compliance-affect-you) by default.
2. Most **Real-Time Executive Dashboards** depend on on-demand updates for their data.
3. **Aircraft cockpits** have zero information about the [profitability](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/how-to-use-a-project-charter-to-start-a-project) of the flight
4. **Executive [Dashboards](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/how-important-is-data-governance-to-internet-marketing)**[ could be](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/inbound-marketing/how-important-is-data-governance-to-internet-marketing) improved by investing in the Human Interface Ergonomics aspects while aircraft cockpit design is constantly being improved based on engineering.
5. Both can suffer from **task saturation**.
6. Never heard of gauge error in a xCelsius Dashboard!

 

 

*We would appreciate any comments or observations you might have on this subject*

 

People Who Read This Also Read"

- Take a [Deeper Dive](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/deep-dive-into-aircraft-cockpits-vs-dashboards) into Aircraft Cockpits Vs Dashboards

 

**About SAP BW Consulting, Inc.**

 

SAP BW Consulting, Inc. provides comprehensive [SAP solutions](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/roce-return-on-capital-employed-simply-explained), including SAP Business Intelligence (BI) and SAP Business Warehouse (BW) consulting, SAP ABAP development, and project management. Our services also include a [1099 Contractor Invoicing and Payment Management System](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/1099-contractor-payments), Salesforce consulting, and Balanced Scorecard consulting for [strategic planning](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/five-forces-model).

 

As HubSpot Marketing and Sales Partners, we specialize in [Google Ads](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/google-ads-management), Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Account-Based Marketing, Content Marketing, and Ecommerce solutions, including Shopify.

 

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