How flight experience impacts pilots' decision-making and visual scanning pattern in low-visibility approaches: preliminary evidence from eye tracking.

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  • Author(s): Gao S;Gao S; Wang L; Wang L
  • Source:
    Ergonomics [Ergonomics] 2024 Oct; Vol. 67 (10), pp. 1284-1300. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jan 22.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0373220 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1366-5847 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00140139 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Ergonomics Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: London : Informa Healthcare
      Original Publication: London, Taylor & Francis.
    • Subject Terms:
      Decision Making* ; Eye-Tracking Technology* ; Pilots*/psychology; Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Female ; Aviation ; Computer Simulation ; Attention ; Eye Movements ; Workload/psychology ; Visual Perception ; Aircraft
    • Abstract:
      The visual approach is the most accident-prone phase of a flight, especially in low-visibility conditions. This preliminary study aimed to examine the effects of flight experience on pilots' decision-making and visual scanning pattern in low-visibility approaches. Twenty pilots were separated into two groups based on their flight experience and completed the high- and low-visibility approaches in balanced order using a high-fidelity flight simulator. Pilots' mental workload and visual scanning patterns were recorded via an eye tracker. The results showed that, compared to less flight-experienced pilots (20%, 3/15), experienced pilots (80%, 4/5) were more likely to make go-around decisions in the low-visibility approaches. Furthermore, they exhibited a more flexible and adaptable visual scanning pattern by quickly shifting their attention, as evidenced by decreased fixations and increased saccades. These findings suggest that the integration of visual scanning strategy and training solution with a marginally meteorological approach may enhance decision-making safety for novice pilots.
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: expertise effect; eye movement; flight experience; mental workload; visual scanning pattern
      Local Abstract: [plain-language-summary] This study investigates the ‘expertise effects’ in visual scanning pattern, mental workload and decision-making among pilots with different levels of flight experience in a modern flight simulator. For safer decision-making, less flight-experienced pilots should enlarge their visual scanning span in a more unburdened manner, especially in low-visibility approaches.
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20240123 Date Completed: 20240920 Latest Revision: 20240920
    • Publication Date:
      20240920
    • Accession Number:
      10.1080/00140139.2023.2298992
    • Accession Number:
      38254322