Multi-Attribute Task Battery configuration to effectively assess pilot performance deterioration during prolonged wakefulness

Summary: Deterioration in performance associated with decreased ability to sustain attention may be found in long and tedious task sessions. The necessity for assessing a number of psychological dimensions in a single session often demands “short” tests capable of assessing individual differences in abilities such as vigilance and maintenance of high performance levels. In the present paper two tasks were selected as candidates for playing this role, the Abbreviated Vigilance Task (AVT) by Temple, Warm, Dember, LaGrange and Matthews (1996) and the Continuous Attention Test (CAT) by Tiplady (1992) . However, when applied to a sample of 829 candidates in a job-selection process for air-traffic controllers, neither of them showed discriminative capacity. In a second study, an extended version of the CAT was applied to a similar sample of 667 subjects, but also proved incapable of properly detecting individual differences. In short, at least in a selection context such as that studied here, neither of the tasks appeared appropriate for playing the role of a “short” test for discriminating individual differences in performance deterioration in sustained attention.

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Asiana Airlines Flight 214

Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors ◽

10.1027/2192-0923/a000066 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 113-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Stephanie Chow ◽

Stephen Yortsos ◽

Najmedin Meshkati

Keyword(s):

Human Factors ◽

Aviation Safety ◽

Cultural Factors ◽

Vital Role ◽

Cultural Issues ◽

Flight Crew ◽

Pilot Performance ◽

Engineering Designs ◽

Flight Deck

This article focuses on a major human factors–related issue that includes the undeniable role of cultural factors and cockpit automation and their serious impact on flight crew performance, communication, and aviation safety. The report concentrates on the flight crew performance of the Boeing 777–Asiana Airlines Flight 214 accident, by exploring issues concerning mode confusion and autothrottle systems. It also further reviews the vital role of cultural factors in aviation safety and provides a brief overview of past, related accidents. Automation progressions have been created in an attempt to design an error-free flight deck. However, to do that, the pilot must still thoroughly understand every component of the flight deck – most importantly, the automation. Otherwise, if pilots are not completely competent in terms of their automation, the slightest errors can lead to fatal accidents. As seen in the case of Asiana Flight 214, even though engineering designs and pilot training have greatly evolved over the years, there are many cultural, design, and communication factors that affect pilot performance. It is concluded that aviation systems designers, in cooperation with pilots and regulatory bodies, should lead the strategic effort of systematically addressing the serious issues of cockpit automation, human factors, and cultural issues, including their interactions, which will certainly lead to better solutions for safer flights.

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Cognitive Factors Mediate the Relation Between Age and Flight Path Maintenance in General Aviation

Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors ◽

10.1027/2192-0923/a000102 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 81-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kathleen Van Benthem ◽

Chris M. Herdman

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Flight Path ◽

General Aviation ◽

Cognitive Factors ◽

Pilot Performance ◽

Pilot Error ◽

Age Related ◽

And Performance ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. Identifying pilot attributes associated with risk is important, especially in general aviation where pilot error is implicated in most accidents. This research examined the relationship of pilot age, expertise, and cognitive functioning to deviations from an ideal circuit trajectory. In all, 54 pilots, of varying age, flew a Cessna 172 simulator. Cognitive measures were obtained using the CogScreen-AE ( Kay, 1995 ). Older age and lower levels of expertise and cognitive functioning were associated with significantly greater flight path deviations. The relationship between age and performance was fully mediated by a cluster of cognitive factors: speed and working memory, visual attention, and cognitive flexibility. These findings add to the literature showing that age-related changes in cognition may impact pilot performance.

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