Physiological Indices of Pilots' Abilities Under Varying Task Demands

This study investigated pilots’ ability by examining the effects of flight experience and task demand on physiological reactions, and analyzing the diagnostic meanings underlying correlated parameters. A total of 12 experienced pilots and 12 less experienced pilots performed 4 simulated flight tasks, including normal and emergency situations. Fixation duration (FD), saccade rate (SR), blink rate (BR), heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and respiration amplitude (RA) were measured during the tasks. More experienced pilots adapted their SR flexibly to changing task demands and had significantly lower SR than less experienced pilots during emergency tasks (29.6 ± 20.0 vs. 70.1 ± 67.1 saccades/min). BR, HR, and RR were affected by pilot experience but not by task demand. More experienced pilots had lower BR, HR, and RR than less experienced pilots during both normal tasks (BR: 14.3 ± 13.0 vs. 32.9 ± 25.8 blinks/min; HR: 72.7 ± 7.9 vs. 83.2 ± 7.2 bpm; RR: 15.4 ± 2.1 vs. 19.5 ± 5.2 breaths/min) and emergency tasks (BR: 10.2 ± 5.0 vs. 32.3 ± 20.8 blinks/min; HR: 73.3 ± 7.3 vs. 82.2 ± 11.6 bpm; RR: 15.6 ± 1.9 vs. 18.0 ± 3.2 breaths/min). FD and RA were not sensitive to either flight experience or task demand. Physiological reactions have the potential to reflect pilots’ ability from different aspects. SR and BR could indicate pilots’ differences in information access strategy. HR and RR could reflect a pilot’s physical fitness. These findings are useful for understanding a pilot’s ability.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.4386.2016
• Record URL:
  • http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/asma/amhp/2016/00000087/00000004/art00006
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/23756314
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of the Aerospace Medical Association.
• Authors:
  • Wang, Zhen
  • Zheng, Lingxiao
  • Lu, Yanyu
  • Fu, Shan
• Publication Date: 2016-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 375-381
• Serial:
  • Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance
  • Volume: 87
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Aerospace Medical Association
  • ISSN: 2375-6314
  • EISSN: 2375-6322
  • Serial URL: https://asma.org/publications/journal/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pilots; Aviation safety; Driver experience; Emergencies; Eye movements; Flight; Flight crews; Novices; Physical fitness; Physiology; Respiratory system; Task analysis
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01601865
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 14 2016 9:15AM