Mach, the recent incidents / accidents (AF447) might be a problem of general awareness due to weaknesses in instrument scanning – training and currency. In addition, with multiple ADC failures the pressure error correction to the altimeter may be removed and thus there is an apparent jump in the display which could encourage an overreaction. Also, possible bias from the dominating need for accurate height keeping in normal operations; thus crew’s not being familiar with the need to change thinking / behaviour patterns between normal and abnormal normal operations.
OK465, IIRC most of the US designed mechanical tapes were mounted vertical, whereas the UK Lightning had a combined Mach / Airspeed tape orientated left to right (high numbers right). Lightning Mate may have flown this version, but I don’t recall teaching him about missile launches (the other side of the hangar and ‘at camp’).
Although HUDs use similar formats and scales to those in EFIS, they may have different characteristics. A HUD ‘real world’ conformal display may not have the same characteristics as the FD overlaying ADI attitude. The pitch scaling can differ by as much as 5:1, perhaps modifying the perception of pitch rate between HUD and an ADI.
Any training for new technology requires modified techniques; Centaurus gives a good example with the FD, but I suspect that tape altimeters, HUD, etc, also require some ‘tricks’ in training.
A potential problem is that the industry accepts many aspects of normal operation of new systems without sufficient thought of abnormal ops where seeming minor differences can have significant effects on workload and situation awareness. Unfortunately these may only surface in incidents or accidents.