Airline Pilots Research Articles

Does Deliberately Going Beyond Alarms in Stall Recovery Exercises Lead to Negative Training?

Abstract: We investigated whether deliberately going beyond alarms during aerodynamic stall recovery exercises may result in negative training. Two groups of 20 airline pilots received stall recovery training in a moving-base simulator. The “delayed-response” group induced the stall themselves. The “immediate-response” group was presented with paused situations and had to recover immediately after unpausing. In a surprising transfer test, the pilots in the delayed-response group showed less aggressive unloading, and experienced significantly more time pressure compared to the pilots in the immediate-response group. In a stall cue recognition test, the delayed-response group performed nearly significantly better. We conclude that experiencing the progression of an aerodynamic stall during training has positive effects on pilot performance, even if this requires unprocedural behavior.

Factors Contributing to Heightened Anxiety in Airline Pilots During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study analyzed the specific effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the mental health of airline pilots. Using an exploratory research methodology, the researcher sent a self-designed questionnaire to seventeen (17) currently registered pilots that flew before, during, and after the pandemic. The intent of the survey was to measure anxiety levels and explore causes of anxiety. The results showed that there were three (3) common causes of post-pandemic anxiety: lack of job security, decreased social interactions, and lack of control. This study analyzed mental health, which is less commonly talked about within the aviation industry. Future research should continue to explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on airline pilots, and how to manage a comparable situation again in the future.

The Moderator Role of Power Distance in the Effect of Emotional Intelligence On Decision-Making Styles: A Study on Airline Pilots

Karar verme yöneticiliğin olmazsa olmaz vasıflarından biridir. Bu bağlamda, uçuşa ilişkin faaliyetlerin yerine getirilmesini sağlayan mürettebatın yöneticisi olmaları nedeniyle pilotlardan, kararlar almaları ve aldıkları bu kararlarla uçuş faaliyetlerinin emniyetli, etkin ve verimli bir şekilde yerine getirilmesini sağlamaları beklenmektedir. Bu araştırmada, pilotların sahip oldukları karar verme tarzlarının duygusal zekâlarından etkilenip etkilenmediği ve algıladıkları güç mesafesi düzeyinin bu etkide düzenleyici rolü olup olmadığının tespit edilmesi hedeflenmiştir. Araştırma, Türkiye’deki sivil havacılık sektöründe faaliyet gösteren havayolu işletmelerinde çalışan 386 Türk pilot üzerinde, e-posta veya WhatsApp uygulaması üzerinden bırak-topla yöntemiyle, tabakalı örneklem alınarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Pilotların duygusal zekâ düzeylerinin rasyonel, kaçıngan ve spontan/anlık karar verme tarzları üzerinde etkisi olduğu ancak sezgisel ve bağımlı karar verme tarzları üzerinde etkisi olmadığı, pilotların algıladıkları güç mesafesi düzeyinin duygusal zekânın kaçıngan karar verme tarzı üzerindeki etkisinde düzenleyici rolü bulunduğu tespit edilmiştir.

Examining the Future of Automation in Commercialized Flight and its Impact on Airline Pilots

The purpose of this study was to focus on the perceptions of an automated (unmanned) flight deck and its intended implementation in the U.S. airline industry. The objective was to understand fully autonomous aircraft’s influence on commercial pilots, as well as investigate the effects on the U.S. airline industry and human-machine interaction. Commercial airline pilots, including ranks of both Captains and First Officers (FO) in Part 121 scheduled service, were the research population for this study. The sample population number was 15 U.S. airline pilots offering various diversity in age, gender, years of service, airline employer, and military or civilian flight experience. The semi-structured qualitative research consisted of developing a deeper understanding of the pilots’ perceptions of the three-pronged approach: (1) the psychological barriers and motives of the pilot, (2) the differences in aircraft ground-based safety and training, and (3) pilots’ understanding of the timeliness of entry for unmanned flight deck operations to reach FAA standards. The study consisted of participant interviews utilizing a series of ten structured and semi-structured interview questions. The findings concluded that pilots are aware of the workload changes that are present with implementing fully autonomous aircraft in the Part 121 category. Two themes became evident when discussing workload changes. First, the role of the pilot changes from a single flight focus to a multi-flight monitor. Secondly, as technology advances, the pilot’s physical workload of hand flying an aircraft will constantly deteriorate. Furthermore, the advancement of a fully automated flight deck and its effects on the U.S. airline industry can potentially have significant impacts on the psychology of commercial airline pilots. While pilot responses varied based on individual experiences, attitudes, and adaptability, there were several psychological responses identified in this study, including (1) loss of control, (2) uncertainty toward technology, (3) job insecurity, and (4) adaptability. Last, the advancement of a fully autonomous flight deck will obviously create additional concerns for U.S. airline passengers. The most significant concerns for passengers included (1) safety, (2) trust, (3) passenger-pilot relationship, and (4) understanding of technology. Passengers will always question if modern technology has been thoroughly evaluated and if it can react to unexpected situations as safely and effectively as a human.

A sociotechnical systems analysis of aircraft aerodynamic stall events

AbstractIn 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 had a fatal crash in New York due to an aircraft aerodynamic stall. Previous reports had placed the actions of the crew as the cause of the incident; however, this work provides a sociotechnical systems analysis of the events that led up to the fatal accident. An Accimap analysis provides a top‐down systemic analysis of Flight 3407, considering the high‐level governmental and regulatory agencies involvement. An online survey with 47 airline pilots provides a bottom‐up review of pilots’ perceptions and decision‐making in response to aerodynamic stall events. Combining the two approaches generates a holistic approach to managing aerodynamic stall events. Analysis of Flight 3407 identified contributory factors within the higher regulatory and company levels. Furthermore, questions of appropriate training were raised by the pilots within the survey results regarding the immediate response to a stall event which commonly affords a startle and/or surprise response. The impact of “startle and surprise” on the pilots’ response to this situation was identified as a key area to focus on, with design and training recommendations provided. We consider these within the context of recent training recommendations in the industry.

Mild Depressive Symptoms in Airline Pilots Associated With Impaired Executive Functions.

While significant efforts have been made to understand the influence of depression-related impairments on executive functioning within the general population, the specific impact on airline pilots remains largely unexplored. Considering the crucial role that cognitive abilities play in the realm of aircraft piloting, it is imperative to probe into the potential repercussions of depressive symptoms on executive functions (EFs) among this professional cohort. This study aims to explore the associations between depressive symptoms and EFs in a convenience sample of airline pilots. Male airline pilots (n = 100) underwent the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) to gauge both the presence and intensity of depressive symptoms. The Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), the Digit Span Task (DST), and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were used to assess EFs. Of the entire sample of pilots, 88% (n = 88) demonstrated minimal depressive symptoms with a BDI-II score ranging from 0 to 13. The remaining 12% (n = 12) exhibited mild depression, with scores between 14 and 19. Pilots suffering from mild depression demonstrated prolonged color and word times and a higher time interference (TI) score on the SCWT. Moreover, these individuals exhibited lower scores on the DST across both the forward digit span (FDS) and backward digit span (BDS) subtests. Finally, the presence of mild depression correlated with an increased number of total errors, encompassing both perseverative and non-perseverative errors, in the WCST. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, we found an independent association between BDI-II scores and total errors in the WCST. Our research points to substantial differences in EFs between airline pilots demonstrating mild depression and those exhibiting minimal depressive symptoms. This information can catalyze heightened consciousness about the psychological welfare of pilots.

The influence of safety-specific transformational leadership on safety behavior among Chinese airline pilots: The role of harmonious safety passion and organizational identification

Safety is a key consideration in the worldwide civil aviation industry, in which an increasing number of aviation accidents are related to flight crew performance. Based on social exchange theory and social identity theory, the primary objective of this study is to examine the relationships among safety-specific transformational leadership, harmonious safety passion, organizational identification, and safety behavior among Chinese airline pilots. Data was collected from 332 commercial airline pilots from China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd. using self-report questionnaires. Correlation analysis, mediation analysis and moderated analysis were conducted. The results show that safety-specific transformational leadership has a positive effect on safety behavior and an indirect effect on safety behavior through the influence of harmonious safety passion. Harmonious safety passion acts as a mediating role, whereas organizational identification acts as a moderating role in the relationship between safety-specific transformational leadership and safety behavior. The managerial implications stemming from the findings of this study may promote pilots’ safety behavior, improve airline management and maintain safety of flight operation.

Impact of different job types on serum cytokine levels in apparently healthy individuals: A comparative study among airline pilots, construction workers, and fitness instructors

BackgroundThe impact of occupational factors on serum cytokine concentrations has not been extensively explored. In this preliminary investigation, we measured the amounts of 12 cytokines in the serum of healthy individuals, comparing three diverse professional categories (aviation pilots, building laborers, and exercise trainers) with distinct work settings and lifestyle factors. MethodsThe study sample comprised 60 men from three distinct professional fields – airline pilots, construction laborers, and fitness trainers (20 participants per category) – who were enlisted during regular outpatient occupational health appointments. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-α, and IFN-γ were measured on a Luminex® platform using a specific kit. Cytokine levels were compared among the three professional groups to determine any significant differences. ResultsAmong the three occupational groups, fitness instructors demonstrated elevated IL-4 concentrations in comparison to both airline pilots and construction laborers, with no significant difference between the latter two professions. Additionally, a stepwise increase in IL-6 levels was identified, commencing with fitness instructors presenting the lowest quantities, succeeded by construction workers, and culminating with airline pilots, who displayed the most elevated concentrations. ConclusionSerum cytokine levels in healthy individuals can exhibit variations based on their occupation. Given the unfavorable cytokine profile detected in airline pilots, it is crucial for the aviation sector to tackle potential health concerns within their employees.

Highflyers navigating potential turbulence ahead: a phenomenological study about airline pilot experiences of the menopause

Introduction: The research advances empirical and practical knowledge about the relationships between women, menopause, work, and health in restrictive work environments: dynamic environments besieged with unpredictable changes (Asonganyi, 2011). An interpretive, phenomenological study capturing the lived experiences of airline pilots to develop a sustainable menopause business model for the aviation industry. With airline pilot shortages well documented and airlines targeting females to bolster quotas to bridge the gender gap, this research is timely and beneficial to women, airline pilots, airlines, and the global economy.

Dampak Ketidaksesuaian Konfigurasi Parkir Pesawat di Parking Stand Bandar Udara Iskandar Pangkalan Bun Kalimantan Tengah

Iskandar Pangkalan Bun Airport, Central Kalimantan, has 5 parking stands that are used for its operational activities, the direction of the parking stands has been regulated in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). In its implementation, violations occurred, namely parked aircraft that did not comply with the SOP and pilots who did not want to follow directions from AMC officers referring to the applicable SOPs. The purpose of this study was to find out the causes, impacts, and solutions of the mismatch of aircraft parking configurations at the parking stand of Iskandar Pangkalan Bun Airport, Central Kalimantan. This study uses descriptive qualitative research methods, data collection is done by participatory observation, structured interviews and documentation. The documentation used is in the form of the applicable AMC Iskandar SOP. The research was conducted on 3 informants, namely Mr. Idi Adnan Ismail with the position of Head of Services and Services section, Mr. Wahyu Hidayat with the position of Head of AMC. And Mr. Roni Chaeruddin as an AMC officer. The validity of the data using triangulation, namely source triangulation, technical triangulation and time triangulation. The results of the study indicate that there is a cause for the mismatch of aircraft parking configurations at the Iskandar Pangkalan Bun Airport parking stand. In the form of violations committed by AMC officers and pilots who committed violations on purpose. This violation resulted in a negative impact, namely flight delays, as well as the feared impact of crashes between aircraft and disruption of operations. Solutions made to overcome this impact include verbal warnings to Wings Air airline pilots and giving warnings in briefings carried out with the site manager (SM) of Citilink airlines, AMC officers, and marshallers.
 Keywords: Parking Stand, Parking Konfiguration, Iskandar Airport, SOP

A Preliminary Study of Gut Microbiota in Airline Pilots: Comparison With Construction Workers and Fitness Instructors.

The term "WORKbiota" has been used to describe the impact of occupational exposure and work types on human microbiota composition. Airline pilots, construction workers, and fitness instructors encompass three diverse professional groups, each with distinct work environments and lifestyle factors that may significantly influence their intestinal "WORKbiota." The current preliminary investigation was aimed to compare the relative abundanceof specific gut microbes among airline pilots, construction workers, and fitness instructorsto shed light on any significant differences. By scrutinizing these diverse professional groups, our objective was to enhance our understanding of how occupational factors influence gut microbiotawhile identifying possible implications for occupational medicine. A convenience sample consisting of 60 menrepresenting three different professional domains - airline pilots, construction workers, and fitness instructors (with 20 individuals in each group) - was selected during regular outpatient occupational health consultations. The abundance of selected gut microbiota constituents, including Escherichia coli, Methanobrevibacter smithii, Akkermansia muciniphila, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Bacteroides spp., was quantified using quantitative SYBR Green quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in stool samples. There were no significant variations among the groups concerning Escherichia coli, Methanobrevibacter smithii, Bifidobacterium spp., and Bacteroides spp. However, Lactobacillus spp. and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii were significantly more abundant in the microbiota of fitness instructors compared to both airline pilots and construction workers, with no significant differences observed between the latter two groups. Notably, the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila demonstrated a progressive decline from fitness instructors to construction workersand ultimately to airline pilots, who exhibited the lowest levels. Airline pilots' gut microbiota was characterized by a lower abundance of health-promoting bacterial species, including Lactobacillus spp., Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Akkermansia muciniphila. Future research is essential to determine whether targeted interventions, such as probiotic and prebiotic supplementation, could potentially enhance gut microbiota composition and overall health in particular occupational groups.

Information on cosmic radiation received by Belgian aircrew: a survey.

Exposure of aircrew to cosmic radiation had already been identified as an issue of concern in the European BSS of 1996 which requested airlines to assess the exposure of the crew and to inform their workers of the health risks their work involves. These requirements have been implemented in Belgian regulations in 2001 and updated with the transposition of the 2013/59/Euratom directive. Dosimetry data show that aircrew is the group of workers, which contributes the most to the collective dose of occupationally exposed workers in Belgium. In order to verify the extent of the information received by Belgian aircrew regarding their exposure to cosmic radiation, FANC, the Belgian radiation protection authority, launched in 2019 a large survey in collaboration with the Belgian Cockpit Association (BeCA), the professional association representing airline pilots in Belgium. The survey included 8 questions regarding the information of aircrew on cosmic radiation in general, on the individual dose level and on the risk related to exposure during pregnancy. A total of about 400 responses to the survey were received. Overall, the survey reveals that aircrew members in Belgium receive too little information about the potential risks, that they are not sufficiently informed about their own exposure and that female staff members are insufficiently informed about the hazards for the unborn child in case of pregnancy, and 66% of the respondents answered that their employer has never informed them about their exposure to cosmic radiation. However, most are aware of this phenomenon, either because they have looked up information or because they have discussed the topic with colleagues and professional associations. The results also showed that 17% of female crew continued to fly while being pregnant. Finally, the survey also allowed to identify differences and similarities between different groups of workers: cockpit and cabin crew, men and women. For instance, cabin crew was even less informed about their individual exposure than cockpit crew.

Effects of age and flight exposure on flight safety performance: Evidence from a large cross-sectional pilot sample

Generally, flight experience protects against the effect of the normal aging process on pilots’ incident involvement, but some studies have shown a negative effect of flight hours on flight safety performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between age, flight exposure, and flight safety performance in a large cross-sectional sample of commercial airline pilots (N = 1291). We examined the role that flight exposure plays in mediating age and flight safety performance, as well as the role that age plays in moderating flight exposure and flight safety performance in different age groups. Pilots’ age, total flight hours of B737-800, and exceedance data from 2016 to 2018 were collected. The results showed that exceedance rates increased rapidly among pilots aged 21–40, regardless of their flight exposure levels. In addition, flight exposure mediated the association between age and exceedance rates among pilots aged 21–35; age moderated the association between flight exposure and exceedance rates among pilots aged 26–35. Age directly affected exceedance rates among pilots aged 41–45 and 56–60. These findings provide insights into the pilots’ psychological and cognitive competencies in the professionalism lifecycle management perspective, which has previously been confused between age and flight exposure.

Development of effective human factors interventions for aviation safety management.

In the aviation industry, safety management has moved away from capturing frontline failures toward the management of systemic conditions through organizational safety management systems (SMS). However, subjective differences can influence the classification of active failures and their associated systemic precursors. With levels of professional experience known to influence safety attitudes, the present research examines whether experience levels among airline pilots had an impact on the classification of causal factors using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS). Differences in the paths of association between categories were evaluated in an open-system context. Pilots working in a large, international airline were categorized into high (≥10,000 total flight hours) and low (<10,000 h) experience groups and asked to classify aircraft accident causal factors using the HFACS framework. One-way ANOVA tests were carried out to determine experience effects on the utilization of the HFACS categories, and chi-squared analyses were used to assess the strength of association between different categories within the framework. Results from 144 valid responses revealed differences in the attribution of human factors conditions. The high experience group was more inclined to attribute deficiencies to high-level precursors and found fewer paths of associations between different categories. In contrast, the low experience group presented a greater number of associations and was comparatively more affected by stress and uncertainty conditions. The results confirm that the classification of safety factors can be influenced by professional experience, with hierarchical power distance impacting the attribution of failures to higher-level organizational faults. Different paths of association between the two groups also suggest that safety interventions can be targeted through different entry points. Where multiple latent conditions are associated, the selection of safety interventions should be made with consideration of the concerns, influences, and actions across the entire system. Higher-level anthropological interventions can change the interactive interfaces affecting concerns, influences, and actions across all levels, whereas frontline-level functional interventions are more efficient for failures linked to many precursor categories.

Cruising for Conspirators: How a New Orleans DA Prosecuted the Kennedy Assassination as a Sex Crime by Alecia P. Long

Reviewed by: Cruising for Conspirators: How a New Orleans DA Prosecuted the Kennedy Assassination as a Sex Crime by Alecia P. Long Michael Wade Cruising for Conspirators: How a New Orleans DA Prosecuted the Kennedy Assassination as a Sex Crime. By Alecia P. Long. Boundless South. (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2021. Pp. xvi, 247. $28.00, ISBN 978-1-4696-6273-2.) Cruising for Conspirators: How a New Orleans DA Prosecuted the Kennedy Assassination as a Sex Crime analyzes Jim Garrison’s 1969 prosecution of retired executive Clay Shaw for his alleged part in an illusory New Orleans–based conspiracy to kill President John F. Kennedy in 1963. In providing crucial historical context for this crusade, Louisiana State University history professor Alecia P. Long argues that Garrison’s “homosexual thrill killing” campaign emanated from the Crescent City’s homophobic criminal justice system and public fascination with conspiracy theories linked to uncertainties about the post-assassination Warren Commission report (p. 108). With impressive research, abundant detail, and careful analysis, Long has crafted a convincing story of intolerance and abuse of power in that era. By 1960, New Orleans reformers and state legislators had “weaponized homophobia” with laws that linked homosexuality with criminal deviance (p. 8). This climate enabled first-termer Garrison’s new reason for President Kennedy’s assassination, focused on gays in the French Quarter. The Big Easy might be soft on organized crime, but not on deviance. Allegations that New Orleans native Lee Harvey Oswald was homosexual surfaced soon after JFK’s death. Airline pilot David Ferrie and the shadowy Clay Bertrand were the first mentioned. The Warren Commission was skeptical but was worried about connections between criminality and gays. So were the report’s critics. Jim Garrison was one of them. Reelected in 1966, as arrests of homosexuals were outpacing every other criminal category, Garrison returned to the stories discounted by the Warren Commission. Based on a new informant’s testimony, he homed in on Clay Shaw, thought to have used Clay Bertrand as an alias. This pursuit led to Shaw’s arrest in early 1967 and the subsequent exposure of his private life. Though he steadfastly maintained his innocence, Louisiana’s lax discovery laws ensured his indictment, while the “circus atmosphere” in the period preceding his January 1969 trial made his life a living hell (p. 119). An all-male jury required only fifty minutes to find him not guilty. Shaw later filed a civil suit claiming damages for violation of his civil rights. Finally decided after his death, it was unsuccessful. Long’s book is a worthy addition to Kennedy assassination literature because it reveals the dangers of conspiracy theories. Garrison further tarnished the image of New Orleans, already in tatters in the wake of the 1960 school desegregation crisis. Given today’s unsteady state of the Union and the existential perils of climate change, Americans should examine the threats posed by the conspiracy theorists and magical thinkers purporting to explain our circumstance. Ideas, both good and bad, are important. Knowing the difference between the good and the bad is absolutely critical. [End Page 395] Michael Wade Appalachian State University Copyright © 2023 Southern Historical Association

Factors Affecting Stress Disorder in Airline X Pilots during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Civil airline pilot is one of the jobs that often causes work stress. The COVID-19 pandemic that entered Indonesia in early 2020 saw a drastic decline in the aviation industry. This can affect airline pilots experiencing work stress. The purpose of the study was to determine whether there were any factors that influenced stress on airline X pilots during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sampling was taken using a non-probability sampling technique, the type of consecutive sampling. To obtain data from the results of the study using univariate analysis and bivariate analysis using the Chi-Square and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests. This study uses a questionnaire instrument Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). The results of the data were analyzed using the Chi Square and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test that there was a relationship between age (P=0.000), flight hours (P=0.002), and work duration (P=0.000) with work stress. There are 92 respondents who do not experience stress and as many as 5 respondents experience moderate stress.PThe COVID-19 epidemic with stress disorders in pilots did not have a big effect, male pilots experienced more work stress than women. Age, length of flight hours, length of work duration affect work stress.

Health in the Skies: A Narrative Review of the Issues Faced by Commercial Airline Pilots.

While the health of airline pilots is crucial to ensuring the safe travel of millions of people worldwide, they remain vulnerable to a variety of health challenges due to the nature of their job. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the most common health issues experienced by commercial airline pilots. By examining the published literature on this topic, we sought to identify areas where further research is needed to understand better the health risks associated with being a pilot and to develop effective interventions to address these risks. We also highlight how recent technological advancesin digital health can be leveraged to conduct research into the potential usefulness of telehealth assessments for identifying occupational hazards in the aviation sector and providing targeted interventions. Overall, addressing the challenges of taking care of pilots' health and ensuring public safety will require a collaborative effort among airlines, governments, and regulators. Prioritizing pilot health and safety can actually improve profitability in the aviation sector by reducing costs associated with absenteeism, turnover, and accidents.

Assessing Expertise Using Eye Tracking in a Virtual Reality Flight Simulation

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this work was to examine the fidelity and validity of an aviation simulation using eye tracking. Background Commercial head-mounted virtual reality (VR) systems offer a convenient and cost-effective alternative to existing aviation simulation (e.g., for refresher exercises). We performed pre-implementation testing of a novel aviation simulation, designed for head-mounted VR, to determine its fidelity and validity as a training device. Method Eighteen airline pilots, with varying levels of flight experience, completed a sequence of training ‘flows.’ Self-reported measures of presence and workload and users’ perceptions of fidelity were taken. Pilots’ eye movements and performance were recorded to determine whether more experienced pilots showed distinct performance and eye gaze profiles in the simulation, as they would in the real-world. Results Real-world expertise correlated with eye gaze patterns characterized by fewer, but longer, fixations and a scan path that was more structured and less random. Multidimensional scaling analyses also indicated differential clustering of strategies in more versus less experienced pilots. Subjective ratings of performance, however, showed little relationship with real-world expertise or eye movements. Conclusion We adopted an evidence-based approach to assessing the fidelity and validity of a VR flight training tool. Pilot reports indicated the simulation was realistic and potentially useful for training, while direct measurement of eye movements was useful for establishing construct validity and psychological fidelity of the simulation.

Fatigue, Work Overload, and Sleepiness in a Sample of Spanish Commercial Airline Pilots.

Commercial aviation pilots are an occupational group that work in particular conditions, with frequent schedule changes, shift work, unfavorable environmental conditions, etc. These circumstances can lead to fatigue, work overload (WO), and daytime sleepiness, factors that can affect their health and safety. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and the association between these parameters in a sample of Spanish commercial airline pilots. The Raw TLX, Fatigue Severity Scale, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaires were administered in a sample of 283 participants. The relationships of the total scores between all the questionnaires were studied by the chi-square test and the risk scores (odds ratio) were calculated. Different models using multiple linear regression were carried out to evaluate the effects of WO, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness, among the total scores, age, and flight hours. Additionally, the internal consistency of each questionnaire was estimated. A total of 28.2% presented WO above the 75th percentile, with mental and temporal demand the dimensions with the greatest weight. A total of 18% of pilots presented fatigue, 15.8% moderate sleepiness, and 3.9% severe sleepiness. We observed an association among WO, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness, important factors related to pilot health and aviation safety.

Jürgen P. Melzer. Wings for the Rising Sun: A Transnational History of Japanese Aviation.

“After a takeoff on a foggy day,” writes former commercial airline pilot Jürgen P. Melzer of the potential for a “routine flight” to become a “memorable encounter,” “the aircraft will break through the cloud layer and offer a spectacular view to the remote horizon under a vast blue sky” (xx). That experience parallels reading Wings for the Rising Sun. The book recounts developments from Japan’s first balloon launch in 1877 to 1945, when its first rocket-driven aircraft took flight as World War II was drawing to a cataclysmic end. Like a stunning view from a cockpit, it offers an expansive—and transnational—panorama of the past, though a few important elements are overlooked in an otherwise expertly engineered and constructed volume. The story of Japanese aviation is best understood, Melzer asserts, as “the transnational trajectory of aeronautical advancement driven by technological development, public air-mindedness, and aerial armament” (264). Technology was central to that history, spreading to Japan in successive waves of French, British, German, and American influence on aircraft makers and military strategists. Indeed, aviation was a technological system embedded in a wider system as “airmen, aeronautical engineers, and strategists participated in the transnational flow and exchange of people, matériel, and ideas” (264). While “Japanese aircraft designers followed the tracks of their Western counterparts,” he argues, “they soon embarked on entirely new and uncharted territory” that allowed them to take the lead in some areas over their Western rivals (xxi-xxii).