Abstract: Following the Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash, four Pilot Source Studies (PSSs) were conducted to explore the relationship between pilot backgrounds and flight performance in regional airlines. Despite consistent methodologies, inconsistent findings emerged, likely due to factors such as sample characteristics, variable categories, performance criteria, and operational contexts. To address these discrepancies, a meta-analysis of the PSSs was performed. After reviewing the studies, eight background variables and two performance variables met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed significant associations between background variables and pilot performance, with validity coefficients ranging from .04 to .10. The strongest predictors were total flight hours, AABI-accredited flight programs, and ATP certification, while former military status, flight instructor certification, and college degrees showed weaker but significant associations. These findings highlight the importance of background variables in flight performance and inform pilot recruitment and training.

Abstract: Organizational climate, stress, resilience, and cortisol measures were investigated in pilots of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). Studies indicate that these variables may be related to the physical and mental health, quality of life, and work of these professionals. A total of 112 FAB pilots participated in this study. A sociodemographic and professional questionnaire, the Resilience Scale, Lipp’s Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults (ISSL), and the Organizational Climate Scale were used. In addition, blood samples were taken to check the pilots’ cortisol levels. According to the ISSL, 48 (42.86%) participants were found to be stressed and 64 (57.14%) were not stressed. In addition, the results showed that the better the perception of organizational climate, the lower the level of stress; and the better the perception of organizational climate, the greater the level of resilience and the fewer the stress symptoms. Most of those who had higher values in the perception of a good organizational climate and level of resilience had cortisol levels in the normal range. There was no significant correlation between stress and cortisol levels. Actions are suggested for developing resilience and paying attention to the organizational climate, aimed at enhancing the quality of life of pilots as well as flight safety.

Abstract: Pilot fatigue remains a hazard in scheduled commercial aviation, contributing to 31 aircraft accidents between 2005 and 2022, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) (2023) . Therefore, this study further investigated fatigue and its impact on operational flight risk in commercial aviation. More than 16,000 safety reports were analyzed using mixed methods. The results showed that fatigue-related occurrences were more likely to be reported confidentially. Factors contributing to an increased risk of fatigue included pilots’ personal factors, inadequate rest periods, or poor hotel environments. Fatigue was observed in 6% of all safety-related occurrences analyzed, but these events consumed 9% of the airlines’ risk budget. Further empirical research is required focusing on the influence of pilots’ personal factors on fatigue risk.

Abstract: Workload can be regarded as the “cost” (in information processing terms) of performing a given flight task. Predictive models of workload are valuable at the early stages of system design to identify potentially excessive demands on the human operator before major system development commences. This paper describes the early development of a task-based predictive workload method. It utilizes a scenario-based timeline analysis supplemented by characterizations of the cognitive nature of the pilot’s tasks using Wickens’ multiple resource theory, followed by the identification of likely task conflicts and estimates of the influence of the task environment. Workload predictions were made for a manual approach, landing and roll-out scenario in a modern airliner. Predictions were compared against corresponding Bedford scale workload estimates. Results show that the predictive workload technique produced comparable estimates of cognitive workload measured using the Bedford scale.

Abstract: The study investigated sleepiness and fatigue in a single split nightshift arrangement in air traffic control. The arrangement included two mirrored nightshift types, with sleep and operational phases alternating once mid-shift. Sleep duration, subjective sleepiness, and fatigue as well as sustained attention, which have not been thoroughly studied to date, were examined. The findings suggest different sleep strategies. Working during the second part of the night resulted in reduced sleep duration before the shift. Subjective fatigue exhibited varying patterns depending on the shift type and time, with elevated fatigue observed at the start and middle of the shift. However, subjective sleepiness and sustained attention were primarily influenced by the passage of time.