Hi KC-10 Driver
I imagine that you have considerable experience of the operational role that your modified aeroplanes will eventually be used for, or else you would not have been chosen for this job.
But just in case you have not (and inappropriate postings have been known to happen before now) then understanding the true needs of the role is vital to expressing opinions about anything the crew is going to use and especially so with FMS and allied kit.
Forgive me if you ARE very up to speed on the role, but if you are NOT then getting that understanding must be your first priority by any way possible and will need a lot of sitting down (plus flying) with those know the current issues of the job.
In my view you need not try to outdo the boffins and think deeper into the systems than they can, but just make sure they know EXACTLY what help pilots need with the operational role. This could mean explaining why a particular parameter that is NOT being displayed would help enormously or why three things that ARE being shown are no help at all and just cluttering up the good stuff. The same notion applies to the mode and switching logic that will doubtless be involved with the equipment. Is it really optimised for what the combat refueller pilot needs? Or is it just what happens to be on sale and readily available today for big aeroplanes period.
If you ARE a current expert in the role then great, but your number one job will still be to explain to all the non pilots on the programme just what you and your mates need and why they must have it.
It may sound strange to say that I see your job as a people one rather than a technical one, but I’d wager a beer that you will agree with that when it is all over. If I am right, any influence you exert on the final outcome is more likely to depend on your performance in meetings (and bars) than in labs or cockpits. You are going to have the SELL the pilot’s needs to people who for various personal reasons simply do not want to buy them.
Good luck