Showing papers on "Aircrew published in 1989"

Communication as group process media of aircrew performance.

Abstract: This study of group process was motivated by a high-fidelity flight simulator project in which aircrew performance was found to be better when the crew had recently flown together. Considering recent operating experience as a group-level input factor, aspects of the communication process between crewmembers (Captain and First Officer), were explored as a possible mediator to performance. Communication patterns were defined by a speech act typology adapted for the flightdeck setting and distinguished crews that had previously flown together (FT) from those that had not flown together (NFT). A more open communication channel with respect to information exchange and validation and greater First Officer participation in task-related topics was shown by FT crews while NFT crews engaged in more non-task discourse, a speech mode less structured by roles and probably serving a more interpersonal function. Relationships between the speech categories themselves, representing linguistic, and role-related interdependencies provide guidelines for interpreting the primary findings.

Aircraft aircrew life support systems

Abstract: Oxygen-enriched breathable gas for breathing by aircrew is delivered by an on-board oxygen generating system 11 utilizing molecular sieve adsorber beds 12. The breathable gas is compressed by a compressor 17 and supplied by way of an appropriately switched two-way valve 25 to a plenum storage tank 30 from which it is withdrawn for breathing by aircrew during normal flight operations. The two-way valve may be switched by electronic control means 15 to connect the compressor with an aircrew seat mounted emergency storage bottle 40 when breathable gas of maximum oxygen concentration is being delivered by the OBOGS and the pressure in the emergency storage bottle is sensed to have fallen below a designated value. This reduces the system servicing requirements and minimizes the size of the system components, in particular the adsorber beds.

Aircrew Performance as a Function of Automation and Crew Composition: A Simulator Study

Abstract: In an experiment designed to examine the effect of crew composition and automation level on flight performance, fifty pilot-copilot crews flew a simulated instrument flight mission between three Michigan cities. Half of the crews were of homogeneous composition (both low or both high time), while half were heterogeneous consisting of one senior high time member and one junior low time member. Within each group, roughly half flew xxx with automated flight control and the other half flew manually. The flight was disrupted by periodic instrument failures. Results indicated that automation improved flight performance and lowered workload. While there was no overall difference in performance between homogeneous and heterogeneous crews, the latter group appeared to benefit more from the advantages that automation had to offer. The results are discussed in terms of the effect of automation on cockpit authority gradients, the role of flight experience, and of crew communications.

Geographic disorientation: approaching and landing at the wrong airport.

Abstract: Geographic disorientation in aviation operations results from the failure of an aircrew to recognize and/or maintain the desired position relative to the external ground and airspace environment. Becoming lost during flight, intruding inadvertently into unauthorized airspace, selecting a wrong airway, landing on the wrong runway, and approaching the wrong airport--with or without actual landing--are some examples of inflight geographic disorientation. This is a relatively common phenomenon that can be experienced by any pilot, regardless of experience level and the type of pilot certification. This paper analyzes 75 cases of geographic disorientation that occurred among air carrier pilots plus 16 cases among general aviation pilots between 1982 and 1987. Inflight geographic disorientation can result from a variety of aeromedical and human factors (aircrew, operational, environmental) which, interacting with each other, create the ideal conditions for the occurrence of this phenomenon. The adverse consequences of geographic disorientation for the aircrew, passengers and aircraft are delineated along with specific preventive measures.

Prescribing Spectacles for Aviators.

Abstract: : This special report was written as a review and reference for USAF vision specialists in prescribing spectacles for aviators. Vision correction in flyers presents unique problems especially for the presbyopes. The demands of each individual aircraft environment need to be well understood. USAF ophthalmologists and optometrists must consider the pertinent aeromedical factors before prescribing spectacles for ametropic aircrew members. This report includes a comprehensive guide to cockpit instrument panel distances and print sizes for most USAF aircraft. Keywords: Human factors engineering; Eyeglasses; Cockpits; Spectacles; Presbyopia; Bifocals; Trifocals; Multifocals; Vision; Aviators; Flyers; Aircrew members; Prescribing eyeglasses. (KT)

Backward Transfer and Skill Acquisition in the AH-1 Flight and Weapons Simulator

Abstract: : Two experiments were conducted, one to investigate the backward transfer of flight skills to the AH-1 Flight and Weapons Simulator (AH1FWS) and another to investigate the acquisition of flight skills in the AH1FWS on selected maneuvers. In the backward transfer research, 16 AH-1 instructor pilots (IPs) from the AH-1 Aircrew Qualification Course were administered checkrides in the AH1FWS and the AH-1F aircraft. Comparison of the performance data from the two checkrides indicates that, while proficient on the maneuvers in the AH-1F, all IPs performed poorly in the AH1FWS. The IPs attributed their difficulties in the AH1FWS to deficiencies in the visual system and the handling and response characteristics of the flight controls. In the skill acquisition research, four groups of 10 operational aviators received training in the AH1FWS. Each group received training on a different set of five maneuvers. The training comprised 10 practice trials for each maneuver. Subjects received no feedback on trials 1- 3; IPs provided instruction on trials 4-10. Mean performance ratings did not reach a satisfactory level of proficiency within the 10 practice trials for 17 of the 20 maneuvers investigated. Furthermore, the backward transfer data obtained during the skill acquisition research were consistent with similar data collected in a previous study. Keywords: Flight simulation; Skill acquisition; Aircrew training; Helicopter; Training effectiveness; Pilot; Performance (Human) ; Transfer of training.

Personality and Flight Training Performance

Abstract: Current naval aircrew selection research typically focuses on psychomotor and cognitive abilities, but evidence from flight training attrition studies suggests that many failures may be due to personality/motivational factors. This study concerns the relationships found between elements of primary flight training performance and the results of two automated personality assessment instruments: a risk test and a pilot personality questionnaire. Both risk test measures correlated significantly with a simple pass/fail index but not with actual flight grades for either student pilots or flight officers. Several of the pilot personality scales correlated significantly with various flight training criteria but many of these were also not orthogonal to measures of the current Navy/Marine Corps aviation selection test battery, while both risk test measures were.

Place of biochemical tests in aircrew medical examinations.

Abstract: The availability of sophisticated tests to quantify the function of various organs has led to the inclusion of a battery of biochemical tests in the medical examinations for aircrew. The purpose of these tests is to detect disease before it is clinically apparent so that its natural course may be altered by treatment. Even if no definitive treatment exists, the presence of a disease may alter an individual's aircrew status. A laboratory test is only useful if it answers questions that relate to patient management. The question addressed by each test should be clearly stated and the sensitivity and specificity of the test should be known. Unfortunately, many of the tests used do not suit the purpose for which they are employed as they lack efficiency. It is also important to understand how the tests may be set to influence the rate of false-positive and false-negative results. Most patients with positive tests may not have the target disorder and each will require a definitive evaluation and diagnosis. If we are unable to arrive at these diagnoses, our efforts in screening will be wasted; only aircrew will remain who have been told they might have something wrong with them, and a flight surgeon who does not know whether they are fit for flying duty or not!

The principle of an occupational approach in expert evaluation of carbon monoxide poisoning during the investigation of aviation accidents

Abstract: In case of expert evaluation of poisonings (CO in particular) violation of occupational duties under the influence of toxic substances should be considered as these violations in some cases may result in erroneous actions of a man-operator, which may cause the development or aggravation of accident situation and in the end, death of aircrew and passengers of an aircraft. Language: ru

Simulator Induced Sickness in the CP-140 (Aurora) Flight Deck Simulator

Abstract: : Training on modern flight simulators can lead to a condition referred to as simulator induced sickness (SIS) which is characterized by nausea, dizziness and postural instability. It is believed that SIS results from exposure to conflicting sensory information. The present report examined the incidence, severity and duration of SIS as a function of flight experience and aircrew position (pilot/copilot) in 16 aircrew following training on the CP-140 (Aurora) Flight Deck Simulator at Canadian Forces Base Greenwood. The dependent measures included symptomatology and postural stability. In addition, measures of workload were taken to examine the contribution of the high task demands generally associated with simulator training to the development of SIS symptomatology. The results indicated that over 50% of tested aircrew experienced increases in symptom frequency following simulator training with the most commonly reported symptoms being mild mental fatigue, physical fatigue, eye strain and after sensations of motion. The workload results confirmed that the simulator imposed high task demands on the aircrew. Furthermore, the workload results were consistent with the pattern of symptoms observed, suggesting that factors other than sensory conflict may be involved in the development of symptomatology following simulator exposure. Future investigations should attempt to identify these factors so that SIS can be managed more effectively. Keywords: Motion sickness, Simulator Sickness; Ataxia; Postural control; Workload. (KT)

Performance Assessment Techniques in Advanced Cockpit Systems

Abstract: This paper describes a group of available physiological and behavioral assessment methods that show promise as meaningful indicators of aircrew performance capability for future aircraft systems. While many of these techniques may be profitably used as aids to the cockpit design process, this paper focuses on their potential use as operational indices of pilot status in future systems which will incorporate revolutionary types of displays and advanced levels of automation. Preliminary results are presented which demonstrate a correlational methodology designed to evaluate the predictive capabilities of candidate biocybernetic measures.

Pre-escape and escape aircraft maneuvers and gyrations: a critical under-reported problem affecting escape system performance and aircrew safety.

Abstract: A major problem confronting both the requirements formulators and the designers of aircrew escape systems is defining the systems' operational emergency conditions. For years the community has relied on computerized compilations of such data. However, increasingly, examination of original records reveals that the report originators are not sufficiently thorough in completing the block sections of the form. As a consequence computerized searches for pre-escape and escape aircraft maneuvering and gyrations show these conditions to be dramatically under-reported. Several recent studies suggest this under-reporting approximates 100%. This is critical because the associated aircraft motions may adversely affect seat separation from the aircraft, degrading system stability, and aircrew safety.

Communication variations and aircrew performance

Abstract: Crew-related communication variations and their effects on performance are examined. The communication analysis involves evaluating the performance of 18 pilots to a high-fidelity full-mission simulation. Initiating speech consists of four categories: commands, questions, observations, and dysfluencies. Response speech is coded as: reply, acknowledgements, and zero response. A standard form of communication has been adopted which should aid in the coordination process and enhance crew performance.

Aircraft coordination training in the U.S. Air Force Air Training Command.

Abstract: Coordinated action among the various members of a multi-crew aircraft is essential for safe flight. Aircrew coordination problems typically fall into one of three broad categories: 1) improper task prioritization, 2) ineffective communication, or 3) lack of coordinated action. The airlines and the Military Airlift Command have very successful crew coordination training programs. The Air Training Command (ATC) will soon transition to a specialized pilot training program where pilots destined for large multi-place aircraft will be trained differently from those who will fly fighter aircraft. Under this new training program, ATC will help establish a crew mind-set early in the new multiplace pilot's career by providing initial crew coordination training.