Showing papers in "The International Journal of Aviation Psychology in 2007"

Measurement of Team Situation Awareness in Low Experience Level Aviators

Abstract: Two measurement methods for situation awareness were tested on 2-person aircrews and compared for the information they yielded on team situation awareness. Forty-one crews of low experience level military aviators flew 2 different scenarios, 1 in a full-mission simulator, a 1 in a low-fidelity trainer. Team situation awareness was measured by instructor and observers in the high-fidelity simulator scenario and by responses to questions on flight knowledge in a scenario in the low-fidelity trainer. Scores on both measures were found to be reliable. Team situation awareness scores based on flight knowledge collected in the low-fidelity scenario were significantly correlated with team performance in the high-fidelity simulation (r = .41, p< .05). The 2 team situation awareness scores (1 from the high-fidelity simulation and 1 from the low-fidelity simulation) were also significantly correlated (r = .43, p< .05). These findings and related information are discussed in relation to the use of the measu...

Haptic Interface For UAV Collision Avoidance

Abstract: Since the human operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle is physically separated from the vehicle during tele-operation, the operator cannot perceive and integrate the multiple-sensory information that is normally available. This often results in control difficulties and a lack of situation awareness. Extending the visual interface to a multi-sensory interface could allow the tele-operator to better perceive and integrate the information about the environment and its constraints. The use of force feedback through a haptic control device allows the operator to perceive information of the environment through the sense of touch. This would complement the visual information and is hypothesized to increase situation awareness, especially in situations where visual information is insufficient. This paper presents the design and evaluation of a novel virtual force field that maps environment constraints to virtual forces on a control stick. The force field was designed in such a way that its size and shape, hence the field sensitivity, could be determined through adjustments of its parameters. An experimental evaluation to investigate the effectiveness of the haptic interface showed that the interface reduces the amount of collisions considerably, contributing to a higher level of safety when a complex task needs to be performed with limited visual information. However, the haptic interface slightly increased operator workload and control activity.

Workload State Classification With Automation During Simulated Air Traffic Control

Abstract: Real-time operator workload assessment and state classification may be useful for decisions about when and how to dynamically apply automation to information processing functions in aviation systems. This research examined multiple cognitive workload measures, including secondary task performance and physiological (cardiac) measures, as inputs to a neural network for operator functional state classification during a simulated air traffic control (ATC) task. Twenty-five participants performed a low-fidelity simulation under manual control or 1 of 4 different forms of automation. Traffic volume was either low (3 aircraft) or high (7 aircraft). Participants also performed a secondary (gauge) monitoring task. Results demonstrated significant effects of traffic volume (workload) on aircraft clearances (p < .01) and trajectory conflicts (p < .01), secondary task performance (p < .01), and subjective ratings of task workload (p < .01). The form of ATC automation affected the number of aircraft collisions (p < .0...

Aviation on the Ground: Safety Culture in a Ground Handling Company

Abstract: Ground handling work performance is an important part of the civil aviation flight cycle. Well-functioning safety management for minimizing the risk for accidents is vital and dependent on the safety culture. This article reports on a safety culture assessment of a ground handling company using a multiplex approach method. The study is included in the establishment of reference data concerning safety culture aspects in different transport branches. The results of the assessment reveal a generally good existing safety culture. However, the safety culture is somewhat poorer than that estimated and desired by the managers and that in other transport branches.

Mnemonic Processing in Air Traffic Controllers: Effects of Task Parameters and Work Organization

Abstract: In real traffic conditions, air traffic controllers rated alertness and tension according to time of day (recordings every 6 hr) and time on duty (1st vs. 2nd half of afternoon shifts). The 2 measures were inversely correlated on the 2nd shift half, suggesting a compensatory effect of increased tension on decreased alertness. Task performance was decreased at 7:00, overall in a free recall task, and according to list length (9- vs. 6-item) and presentation modality (visual vs. auditory) in a recognition task. The data suggest that changes in controllers' memory processes with time of day depend on the processing strength induced by task characteristics.

A Comparison of Speech Input and Touch Screen for Executing Checklists in an Avionics Application

Abstract: The amount of information available on the civil flight deck continues to increase. This has led to consideration of a range of input and control methods to ease the interaction between human and machine. Two of these, speech recognition and touch screens, are considered here. An experimental study is reported that compares the use of speech and touch for executing checklists in a flight deck simulator. It was found that the use of speech recognition disrupted the primary tracking task to a lesser extent than control through a touch screen, and was preferred by participants. However, checklist completion was slower when speech was used. The application of speech recognition and touch control technologies on the flight deck in light of these findings.

FASA: Development and validation of a novel measure to assess the effectiveness of commercial airline pilot situation awareness training

Abstract: The present study took a novel approach to the assessment of a commercial airline pilot Situation Awareness (SA) training programme. The Factors Affecting Situation Awareness (FASA) questionnaire was developed to provide a more diagnostic measure of aircrews' acquisition and maintenance of SA. Thirty-two aircrew participants took part in this study; half received standard Line-Oriented Flight Training (LOFT) and half received bespoke SA training. The results of the study provide strong evidence for the reliability of FASA to detect improvements to aircrew SA afforded by the training programme. The implications of these findings to SA measurement are discussed.

Fatigue in Aviation: A Survey of the Awareness and Attitudes of Indian Air Force Pilots

Abstract: Sleep loss and circadian rhythm disruptions cause fatigue in aircrew and thus affect flight safety. Intervention programs for fatigue in any organization should be based on relevant indigenous data. This study was undertaken to develop an understanding of fatigue among aircrew of the Indian Air Force (IAF). This questionnaire study was carried out at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Bangalore, in which a total of 83 military fast jet aircrew participated. The mean age of the respondents was 28.9 years (SD = 3.7) with an average military service of 7.2 years. The majority of the aircrew tended to sleep more in the afternoon and longer in the night on holidays and weekends. One third of the aircrew believed that they could perform in peak efficiency even with 1 to 2 hr sleep loss. A similar number stated that they had felt sleepy or drowsy in the cockpit due to sleep deprivation. Aircrew rated decreased attention, increased reaction time, lapses in concentration, and poor aircraft handling as important ...

Development and Validation of a Measure to Assess Perceptions Regarding Gender-Related Pilot Behavior

Abstract: There are several stereotypes, prejudices and preconceptions regarding female aviators' abilities and the suitability of women for a career as professional aircraft pilots. This study reports on the development and validation of the Aviation Gender Attitude Questionnaire (AGAQ), which was designed to assess aviators' perceptions about gender-related pilot behavior. A total of 544 South African aircraft pilots participated in the validation of the questionnaire. A four-factor measurement model was established by using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed a good fit between the multifactor solution for the AGAQ and the data. The four factors associated with perceptions about gender-related pilot behavior were Flying Proficiency, Safety Orientation, Flight Confidence and Flight Standards.

Crosswind Landings in General Aviation: A Modified Method of Reporting Wind Information to the Pilot

Abstract: Crosswind conditions are a contributory factor in many general aviation landing incidents and accidents. In an online survey, it was observed that 98% of respondents either failed to or could not accurately calculate the runway crosswind component from air traffic control (ATC) reports passed using the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard phraseology; the majority of pilots also severely underestimated the crosswind strength. Furthermore, nearly 30% of these respondents could not recall or inaccurately recalled the crosswind limit of their aircraft. In a 2nd study using a series of approach and landing trials in a general aviation simulator, wind reports were passed to participants using either the standard ICAO format or in a modified format, where the runway crosswind component was explicitly stated. The results showed that for the group receiving wind reports in the standard format, the mental arithmetic associated with calculating the runway crosswind impaired flying performance. ...

Unusual Attitude Recoveries With a Spatial Disorientation Icon

Abstract: Twenty-two participants (12 with prior flying experience and 12 without), performed a series of trials in a low fidelity flight simulator in which they attempted to recover from a series of unusual attitudes. Two display variables were examined: (1) the attitude display was either a traditional head-up display (HUD) with an inside-out motion and pitch ladder, or an Arc-Segmented Attitude Reference (ASAR) display; and (2) a command icon that pointed to the appropriate airplane rotation for recovery direction in pitch and roll was either present or absent. The results revealed that the icon speeded the initial correction and reduced the number of roll reversal errors, while the traditional HUD decreased the total time to recovery. Experienced pilots were more disrupted by the ASAR display than were novices.

Age-Related Group and Individual Differences in Aircraft Pilot Cognition

Abstract: The effect of age on cognition was examined with a variety of neuropsychological tests in 220 aircraft pilots. The assessment included tests of psychomotor speed, information processing speed, attention and executive ability, verbal learning and memory, and visual learning and memory. Pilot age was between 28 and 62 with a mean ageof48years. Test performance was regressed on pilot age to determine the function (linear or nonlinear) of age-related differences in cognition. Individual performance was also examined by assessing outlier test scores (> 2 SD) relative to the overall group mean. Age was significantly associated with test performance across several domains; when significant, a linear function best described the association. Pilot age was not associated with immediate verbal recall or recognition or with immediate visual recall. Almost all performance outliers occurred in pilots over 40 years old. Implications of a gradual decline in pilot cognition are discussed as well as the considerat...

An evaluation of CRM attitudes of Filipino pilots in four Philippine aviation companies

Abstract: This study evaluated the attitudes and perception of pilots in the Philippine aviation industry. The evaluation was made in terms of understanding crew resource management (CRM) concepts and adoption of CRM attitudes by the pilots. Eighty-eight pilots from different companies participated in this study. Results showed that attitudes of Filipino pilots strongly adhered to CRM principles. This may be attributed to strong management support for CRM practice and national culture. The Filipino culture of pakikisama and pakikibagay reinforced CRM teachings on teamwork and crew coordination. However, the large power gap in the Filipino culture seems to hinder open communication with superiors. The length of CRM training and its latency did not prove to be significant determinants of CRM-related attitudes.

HUD with a velocity (flight-path) vector reduces lateral error during landing in restricted visibility

Abstract: The operational community has assumed that using a head-up display (HUD) instead of conventional head-down displays will increase accuracy and safety during approach and landing. The putative mechanism for this increase in safety is that previously demonstrated improvements in lateral and vertical control of the aircraft in flight should carry over to the landing situation. Alternatively, it is possible that, during approach and landing, the HUD might affect the pilot's ability to assimilate outside cues at the decision height, thereby reducing the success ratio for landings using an HUD. This article reports a pair of experiments that test these competing hypotheses. Taking advantage of the opportunity when an air transport operator introduced HUD in an existing aircraft fleet, we were able to use a Boeing 737-700 full-motion simulator flown by commercial airline pilots. We explored the effects of (a) HUD use, (b) ambient visibility, and (c) length of approach lighting on the size and location of the touchdown footprint. We also explored the effects of HUD use on approach success ratio. HUD use reduced the width of the touchdown footprint in all tested visibility and lighting conditions, including visibility below the minimum allowed. HUD use had no effect on the length of the touchdown footprint. We could not detect any decrease in approach success rate for HUD approaches. Based on these empirical data, the minimum visibility for approaches using HUDs could be set lower than for approaches without an HUD. Copyright © 2007, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Perceived GPS Use and Weather-Related Decision Strategies Among Pilots

Abstract: This study sought to examine the relation between visually rated pilots' perceived use of global positioning systems (GPS) as a primary source of navigation and their perceived approach to decision making during encounters with deteriorating weather conditions in flight. A total of 177 pilots completed a questionnaire in which they were asked to indicate the frequency with which they use GPS as a primary source of navigation, the decision strategy that is most like the strategy that they engage during in-flight weather-related decision making, and their perception of the significance of 9 weather-related cues as the basis for decision making. Overall, the results revealed a relation between the perceived use of GPS as a primary source of navigation and the use of aspects of prototypical or tactical decision strategies. Relations were also evident between the perceived use of GPS and the perceived significance of weather-related cues. It was concluded that the introduction of advanced technology systems such as GPS may be associated with a qualitative change in the way in which pilots acquire task-related information and formulate decisions. These outcomes are discussed in terms of a number of applied interventions. Language: en

Clothoid-Augmented Trajectories for Perspective Flight-Path Displays

Abstract: Perspective flight-path displays allow pilots to accurately follow complex curved approach trajectories. The current practice to define the tunnel reference trajectory as a concatenation of straight and circular segments, however, leads to difficult transition maneuvers between these segments, strongly contributing to pilot workload. To achieve a smooth interception, clothoid transition paths can be inserted between the straight and circular sections. A clothoid function defines a trajectory curvature that changes from 0 (a straight trajectory) to the desired curvature (the circular trajectory) in a certain amount of space traveled. Because the reference path better matches the natural aircraft response, the clothoid transients are hypothesized to make the task of flying complex curved approaches easier. A pilot-in-the-loop experiment, conducted in a fixed-base flight simulator, confirms this hypothesis and shows that clothoid-augmented trajectories yield improved path-following performance, requ...

Designing Energy Display Formats for Civil Aircraft: Reply to Amelink, Mulder, van Paassen, and Flach

Abstract: In their recent article on total energy-based flight-path displays, Amelink, Mulder, van Paassen, and Flach (2005) quite rightly pointed out that energy issues are covered in descriptions of the piloting task, which tend to be based on the machine's behavior, rather than the system's functions and their relation to the goals to be achieved. Taking a more holistic approach, referred to by Amelink et al. as ecological interface design, will lead to greater pilot situation awareness, flight safety, and efficiency. We have addressed this in our work on designing energy display formats for civil aircraft, and would like to add to the work of Amelink et al. in a reply to their article.

The Paradox of Helicopter Emergency Training

Abstract: The practice of helicopter emergency procedures is not necessarily based on the prevalence of the emergencies in helicopter operations. Stuck pedal, hover autorotation, and ditching accidents taken from the National Transportation and Safety Board database illustrate this phenomenon. It is argued that manufacturers, aviation authorities, and flight schools determine the helicopter training curriculum and base their decisions on the safety of practice and the possibility of transfer of skill. Research on learning and transfer of skill in helicopter training is necessary to judge and possibly improve current helicopter training practices.

Enhancing Team Training and Performance With Automated Performance Assessment Tools

Abstract: Assessing team performance is a difficult task for instructors because of factors such as high workload. Automated performance measurement systems may provide assistance to instructors and improve the quality of performance assessment. However, little research is available to guide such interventions or to document their effects. This research compared the ability of flight instructors to give diagnostic ratings of team performance with or without computer assistance using the Enhancing Performance With Improved Coordination (EPIC) tool. It was found that the instructor group operating with EPIC (n = 10) had more differentiated and accurate ratings of team performance compared to the control group (n = 10). These results suggest that approaches such as EPIC can serve to complement and augment instructor capabilities, providing more powerful and diagnostic team performance assessment systems.

The Value of Spatial Cues in 3D Air Traffic Displays

Abstract: Interest in implementing 3D pictorial displays for traffic information in aircraft has been prevalent for decades without any obvious implementation in the cockpit. Our research is focused on design issues for these displays. The purpose of the experiments discussed here was to investigate where and when additional spatial cues, e.g., drop-lines, could contribute to better performance and whether such additions could replace shifts between 2D and 3D presentation for different tasks. Our results show that drop-lines are beneficial in focused attention tasks but are not necessarily beneficial in more integrated tasks. This speaks to the need for an adaptive approach to the presentation of flight situation displays.

Job-Specific or General Training: A Quantitative Assessment

Abstract: This work introduces a framework for developing job-specific training as well as training that is useful across operational contexts by combining 2 theories of training design: identical elements and general principles. Thirty-six participants were assigned to 1 of 3 training conditions, 2 utilizing identical elements (pilot training and flight dispatcher training) and 1 utilizing general principles. Training effectiveness was measured by participants' scores on operational tasks completed after training. Participants in both identical elements training groups exhibited significantly higher scores on tasks related to their training, suggesting that identical elements benefit job-specific training. The general principles training group performed well on flight dispatcher tasks, but did not perform well on pilot tasks, a result that suggests general principles are beneficial in some situations but may best be utilized in combination with job-specific training.