Experienced Pilots Research Articles

Long-duration spaceflight adversely affects astronaut piloting performance

A group of highly experienced pilots performed full-motion, simulated T-38 landings before and after extended missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS). On the day of return from the ISS pilots’ performance was degraded on the initial landing attempt, with difficulty maintaining altitude during banking turns and navigational errors, which affected touchdown parameters such as touchdown speed, height over runway threshold and touchdown distance from the runway threshold. A positive result was that all pilots successfully completed a second landing attempt on the same day, suggesting a rapid recovery of performance once exposed to the task at hand. These results are consistent with a previous study that demonstrated significant deficits in post-flight driving performance, and both the pilot and driver subjects’ performance recovered to pre-flight levels within four days of return from the ISS. We propose that the primary factors underlying the post-flight performance deficits were the inability to respond appropriately to gravitational and visual tilts and a reduction in multitasking ability.

The Optimal Strategies of Maneuver Decision in Air Combat of UCAV Based on the Improved TD3 Algorithm

Nowadays, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) pose a significant challenge to air defense systems. Unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) have been proven to be an effective method to counter the threat of UAVs in application. Therefore, maneuver decision-making has become the crucial technology to achieve autonomous air combat for UCAVs. In order to solve the problem of maneuver decision-making, an autonomous model of UCAVs based on the deep reinforcement learning method was proposed in this paper. Firstly, the six-degree-of-freedom (DoF) dynamic model was built in three-dimensional space, and the continuous actions of tangential overload, normal overload, and roll angle were selected as the maneuver inputs. Secondly, to improve the convergence speed for the deep reinforcement learning method, the idea of “scenario-transfer training” was introduced into the twin delayed deep deterministic (TD3) policy gradient algorithm, the results showing that the improved algorithm could cut off about 60% of the training time. Thirdly, for the “nose-to-nose turns”, which is one of the classical maneuvers for experienced pilots, the optimal maneuver generated by the proposed method was analyzed. The results showed that the maneuver strategy obtained by the proposed method was highly consistent with that made by experienced fighter pilots. This is also the first time in a public article that compared the maneuver decisions made by the deep reinforcement learning method with experienced fighter pilots. This research can provide some meaningful references to generate autonomous decision-making strategies for UCAVs.

Cognitive Biases in Commercial Aviation: Empirical Review of Accident Reports

Cognitive biases in commercial aviation can coax pilots into disregarding established protocols or overlooking potential hazards, a concern that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has acknowledged. However, the concrete impact of these biases on aviation operations has not been adequately quantified; empirical evidence remains limited. Recognizing this research gap, our study seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of cognitive biases within commercial aviation. We conducted a review of National Transportation Safety Board flight incident reports for air carriers across the United States, from 2014 to 2024. We also conducted an expert interview with an instructor who is an experienced pilot to ascertain current training material and its adequacy in addressing cognitive biases. Our analysis revealed cognitive biases not identified by the FAA (e.g., overconfidence) and training material gaps. Our research lays the groundwork for improved training protocols and the potential for a more nuanced understanding of pilot behavior and safety.

Aviation Operators’ Total Loads Analysis by Multi-Criteria Decision-Making

The aviation operator's role and duties undergo a dramatic change from direct engagement to information management and surveillance in today's advanced aviation environment. In this modern and highly automated working environment, operators must handle various information, data, and transmission during operations, particularly while making decisions in specific situations. The total load system of operators (information, communication, mental, task, and workload) has been fundamentally reshaped in response to these dynamic changes. The highly automated system is linked to unbalanced operator loads, unanticipated losses in situation awareness, inappropriate decision-making quality, and higher stress levels. This research employs the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a foundational framework, integrating the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) on the AHP model to address uncertainties and applying the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) for ranking the aviation operators' total loads. online Survey distributed among 63 experts across four aviation operator groups: less experienced pilots, expert pilots, less experienced Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs), and experienced ATCOs. serves to evaluate the pivotal characteristics of the operators' total loads model. The results highlighted the communication load's effect on the aviation operators specifically the level of the language as well the workload specifically both practicing referring to the experience and skills.

Results and methodology for classifying high risk pilots using CANFLY: A cognitive health screening tool for aviators

Cognitive health screening for aviators would assist in managing a shortage of experienced pilots. Extending pilot careers by optimizing their cognitive health would address both the number and quality of pilots available for airline and general aviation operations. The present work tested the validity of an online screening tool for pilots that measures aviation domain-relevant cognition. Sixty-five licensed pilots (18–80 years, M = 48.8, SD = 16.3) with varying levels of experience completed a 30-min online cognitive health screening tool for pilots. Risk status was determined via a novel metric using self-reported incidents. Machine learning algorithms identified the cognitive factors most useful in identifying pilots with increased risk for accidents and serious incidents. Support vector machines and boosted decision tree algorithms provided the most reliable and strongest classifications models of pilot risk. Findings support the use of this short online screening tool for highlighting performance issues with domain-relevant cognitive abilities based on the Dynamic Mental Model for pilots, such as situation awareness and prospective memory. Understanding personal cognitive challenges is the basis for customized skill maintenance designed to augment cognition for those interested in safely extending their piloting careers.

Оценка влияния ретроцеребеллярных кист головного мозга на ликворную систему как критерий годности к летной работе

Retrocerebellar cysts of the brain represent the aspect that is important for determination of fitness for flight. The study was aimed to assess their impact on the pilot performance by conducting comparative analysis of MRI data of the first-year cadets and experienced pilots. We assessed the prevalence of retrocerebellar cysts among cadets and pilots, conducted non-contrast brain MRI, and compared the major academic and physical performance indicators, along with the results of professional psychological screen. The prevalence of retrocerebellar cysts among first-year cadets was 8.2%. High prevalence of asymptomatic retrocerebellar cysts among experienced pilots was revealed (two cases out of five). The intergroup comparison of indicators makes it possible to draw a conclusion about probable minor impact of such changes on fitness for flight. Further research is required to clarify the mechanisms underlying the impact of retrocerebellar cysts on the pilot performance and develop appropriate guidelines for medical boards.

ВОЗРАСТ ПИЛОТА И ТРАВМАТИЗМ В АВИАЦИИ

The results of an analysis of the influence of pilot age on injury statistics in civil aviation are described. The proportion of aviation accidents caused by human actions remains the same and even tends to increase. Workers continue to get injured during ground handling operations for aircraft. The authors' assessment of the various risk factors contribution to ongoing negative events confirms the human factor prevalence. Statistics on the activities of civil aviation was analyzed. Examples of aviation accidents involving general aviation aircraft and medical aircraft transporting patients who required emergency medical care were considered. It has been shown that there is a peak in the aviation accidents for pilots aged 50-59 years, and this peak is observed among experienced pilots with more than 5,000 hours of flight time. For pilots aged 40-49 years, half of the accidents occurred among aircraft commanders with 1,000 ... 5,000 hours of flight time, and about one third among pilots with less than 500 hours of flight time. It was revealed that for domestic general aviation in 2020, the main causes of aviation accidents were such elements of human factor as piloting errors associated with deficiencies in training and little flight experience; loss of spatial orientation in weather conditions that do not comply with visual flight rules, when the underlying surface is white, when caught in a snow whirlwind, as well as a collision with power line wires.

Exocentric control scheme for robot applications: An immersive virtual reality approach.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) exhibit great agility but usually require an experienced pilot to operate them in certain applications such as inspection for disaster scenarios or buildings. The reduction of cognitive overload when driving this kind of aerial robot becomes a challenge and several solutions can be found in the literature. A new virtual control scheme for reducing this cognitive overload when controlling an aerial robot is proposed in this paper. The architecture is based on a novel interaction Drone Exocentric Advanced Metaphor (DrEAM) located in a Cave Automated Virtual Environment (CAVE) and a real robot containing an embedded controller based on quaternion formulation. The testing room, where real robots are evolving, is located away from the CAVE and they are connected via UDP in a ground station. The user controls manually a virtual drone through the DrEAM interaction metaphor, and the real robot imitates autonomously in real time the trajectory imposed by the user in the virtual environment. Experimental results illustrate the easy implementation and feasibility of the proposed scheme in two different scenarios. Results from these tests show that the mental effort when controlling a drone using the proposed virtual control scheme is lower than when controlling it in direct view. Moreover, the easy maneuverability and controllability of the real drone is also demonstrated in real time experiments.

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.

All's well that ends well? Outcome bias in pilots during instrument flight rules

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to examine if the Outcome Bias also occurs in pilots flying under instrument flight rules (IFR). In a scenario‐based survey, 60 pilots evaluated weather‐related decisions made by hypothetical pilots. Participants rated the decisions as better, less risky, and regarded the probability that they would have made the same decision as higher when they were followed by a positive outcome, than when they were followed by a negative outcome. This effect showed likewise for novice pilots and for experienced pilots. These findings could be relevant for the flight‐related decision‐making of pilots, which sometimes is affected by the decisions made by third‐party pilots. In particular, decisions made by other pilots that have led to positive outcomes might be hastily followed, whereas those that have led to negative outcomes might be hastily rejected.

Recent experience and performance during a critical in‐flight event

AbstractThe aim of this study was to test, amongst less experienced pilots, the relationship between the recency of flight experience and performance during a critical in‐flight event. It was hypothesised that, in response to an engine failure, recent flight experience would be associated with a superior level of aircraft control, decreased cognitive load, and a successful landing at an alternate destination. Pilots completed a simulated flight during which an engine failure occurred. The weather conditions and proximity to the alternate were designed to enable a power‐off landing. The results revealed a relationship between recent flight experience and landing at the alternate, although no relationship was evident with aircraft control. Objective, rather than subjective levels of cognitive load tended to covary with landing successfully at the alternate. The outcomes provide support for the role of recent flight experience in enabling successful responses to critical in‐flight events, particularly amongst less experienced pilots.

Numerical Simulation of Fully Coupled Flow-Field and Operational Limitation Envelopes of Helicopter-Ship Combinations

Landing a helicopter to the ship flight deck is most demanding even for the most experienced pilots and modeling and simulation of the ship-helicopter dynamic interface is a substantially challenging technical problem. In this paper, a coupling numerical method was developed to simulate the fully coupled ship-helicopter flow-field under complete wind-over-deck conditions. The steady actuator disk model based on the momentum source approach and the resolved blade method based on the moving overset mesh method were employed to model the rotor. Two different ship-helicopter combinations were studied. The helicopter flight mechanics model was established and then the influences of coupled airwake on the helicopter were analyzed. Finally, based on the derived rejection criterion of safe landing and the developed numerical method, the flight envelopes for these two ship-helicopter combinations were predicted. The steady actuator disk model was found to be effective in the study of helicopter operations in the shipboard environment. The calculated flight envelopes indicate that an appropriate wind direction angle is beneficial to increasing the allowable maximum wind speed and the operating boundary is affected by the rotation direction of the main rotor.

Motel Builders of the Modern West

Motel Builders of the Modern West

Visual and Control Augmentation Techniques for Pilot Assistance During Helicopter Shipboard Recovery

Shipboard launch and recovery of helicopters continue to pose operational challenges even to experienced pilots. The present research seeks to develop novel visual and control augmentation techniques and determine their impact on human factors for shipboard recovery operations. The paper first outlines the development and integration of a helicopter–ship dynamic interface model into a wide field of view, fixed-base rotorcraft simulation environment. The paper then describes the development of novel visual and control augmentation techniques for pilot assistance during shipboard recovery. Visual augmentation includes two-dimensional primary flight information and three-dimensional conformal shipboard landing symbology presented on a low-cost, off-the-shelf, see-through head-mounted display system to facilitate "eyes-out" piloting. Control augmentation includes robust nonlinear control laws producing translational rate command position hold, and acceleration command velocity hold response types with good predicted handling qualities. Finally, the paper reports experimental results of simulated visual shipboard approaches conducted with four experimental test pilots for low- and high-intensity ship motions. The results indicate improved piloting performance, mitigation of pilot-induced oscillations, lower workload, improved handling, and improved perceived safety for fleet pilots for the proposed visual and control augmentation techniques.

Competing at the Cybathlon championship for people with disabilities: long-term motor imagery brain–computer interface training of a cybathlete who has tetraplegia

BackgroundThe brain–computer interface (BCI) race at the Cybathlon championship, for people with disabilities, challenges teams (BCI researchers, developers and pilots with spinal cord injury) to control an avatar on a virtual racetrack without movement. Here we describe the training regime and results of the Ulster University BCI Team pilot who has tetraplegia and was trained to use an electroencephalography (EEG)-based BCI intermittently over 10 years, to compete in three Cybathlon events.MethodsA multi-class, multiple binary classifier framework was used to decode three kinesthetically imagined movements (motor imagery of left arm, right arm, and feet), and relaxed state. Three game paradigms were used for training i.e., NeuroSensi, Triad, and Cybathlon Race: BrainDriver. An evaluation of the pilot’s performance is presented for two Cybathlon competition training periods—spanning 20 sessions over 5 weeks prior to the 2019 competition, and 25 sessions over 5 weeks in the run up to the 2020 competition.ResultsHaving participated in BCI training in 2009 and competed in Cybathlon 2016, the experienced pilot achieved high two-class accuracy on all class pairs when training began in 2019 (decoding accuracy > 90%, resulting in efficient NeuroSensi and Triad game control). The BrainDriver performance (i.e., Cybathlon race completion time) improved significantly during the training period, leading up to the competition day, ranging from 274–156 s (255 ± 24 s to 191 ± 14 s mean ± std), over 17 days (10 sessions) in 2019, and from 230–168 s (214 ± 14 s to 181 ± 4 s), over 18 days (13 sessions) in 2020. However, on both competition occasions, towards the race date, the performance deteriorated significantly.ConclusionsThe training regime and framework applied were highly effective in achieving competitive race completion times. The BCI framework did not cope with significant deviation in electroencephalography (EEG) observed in the sessions occurring shortly before and during the race day. Changes in cognitive state as a result of stress, arousal level, and fatigue, associated with the competition challenge and performance pressure, were likely contributing factors to the non-stationary effects that resulted in the BCI and pilot achieving suboptimal performance on race day.Trial registration not registered

Using augmented reality to reduce workload in offshore environments

In the offshore environment helicopters are widely used to transport crew and material from and to maritime wind farms. Due to unforeseeable and often inclement weather situations and challenging tasks these missions put a high workload on the helicopter pilots. In this paper two test campaigns are described which assess the utility of an affordable commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) head-mounted display (HMD) to reduce workload for commercial maritime operations. The HMD system was implemented within the air vehicle simulator (AVES) at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Three missions were flown with experienced offshore pilots, performed in a realistic scenario. Independent subjective assessments of both workload and situational awareness were obtained. Results from the studies show that the overall workload for all missions decreased and situational awareness increased when using the HMD. Opinions regarding overall benefit and advantages of the system were found to vary between pilots and missions.

From Demonstration to Flight: Realization of Autonomous Aerobatic Maneuvers for Fast, Miniature Fixed-Wing UAVs

Performing agile maneuvers autonomously remains a challenge for miniature fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) because they are required to fly along complex trajectories while approaching their physical limits. This article proposes an integrated maneuver planning and tracking method to address this issue. The developed approach is built upon the learning from demonstration (LFD) framework. First, an experienced pilot performs several sophisticated maneuvers manually. Then, instead of directly controlling the UAV to track the demonstrated trajectory, we split the teaching maneuvers into multiple segments. A novel dynamic motion primitive in terms of a unit dual quaternion (DQ-DMP) is then developed to encode and store those segments’ rotational and translational features. Besides, a robust connecting method for the learned DQ-DMPs is introduced, resulting in a smooth maneuvering trajectory that even the pilot has not taught yet. Additionally, a cascaded dynamic inversion control scheme with stable tracking performance is also developed. Our system is integrated into an autonomous fixed-wing drone and implements several complex maneuvers in the outdoor environment. The results of comparative experiments and outdoor flight reveal that our approach can learn, adapt and generalize maneuvers in real-world scenarios.

A SimPLE Tool for UAV Remote Pilot Training and Testing

With the ever-growing potential of using UAVs in various fields there is a need for proper training of their remote pilots. This paper presents a newly developed tool for the training and testing of UAV remote pilots, based on the measurement of their responses in controlling a simulated UAV in 2D space. The evaluation system consists of a conventional RC controller and a PC running Python scripts for the measurement and preprocessing of data and the MATLAB System Identification Toolbox for the calculation of the parameters based on the human model. Based on the initial testing results, which were carried out with an experienced pilot and a beginner, four key parameters were identified, that would be used for the evaluation of the performance of UAV remote pilots. Furthermore, the developed system could be used for training purposes to learn the basic principles and dynamics of UAVs in a safe environment.

Analysis of Automation Mode Confusion with Brazilian Airline Pilots

Automation is an important feature in-flight operations and its implementation in aviation has brought numerous benefits, such as reducing the workload and optimizing operations. However, there are difficulties in crew interaction with automation, such as autopilot mode confusion. To expose which mode confusions are usually prevalent and recurrent with Brazilian pilots, a survey-style questionnaire was administered to airline pilots. The survey results, answered by 145 pilots, reveal that the average frequency of mode confusion is 2.01 ± 0.40 occurrences per year and less experienced pilots are more likely to experience the phenomenon. This research points out that the prevalence of the phenomenon of mode confusion occurs in the final stages of flight, the vertical navigation (VNAV) modes being the most complex and confusing to pilots. The research also presents the main causes of mode confusion, as perceived by the pilots, their consequences, and mitigating measures. Data collected in this study can be used in future studies and by airlines to develop mitigating actions to manage the risk of mode confusion.

Examining Stereotype Threat in Neuropsychological Testing: A Usability and User Experience Pilot Study

Stereotype threat is defined as the situational predicament when people feel at risk of conforming to social stereotypes. Correspondingly, stereotype threat may negatively impair a persons’ working memory and cognitive abilities during neuropsychological tests due to hyper awareness of negative stereotypes. Moreover, it is critical to test the usability and the user experience of application-based neuropsychological assessments within diverse aging adult populations. In this pilot study, verbal expressions of feeling pressure to succeed, within a diverse population of young adults, were examined while taking an application-based neuropsychological assessment. Data was collected from 15 self-identified respondents (i.e., 7 Latinx, 5 Asian, 3 Bi-racial). Before beginning the assessment, 8 out of 15 participants exhibited self-handicapping behaviors such as offering explanations of mental exhaustion due to work and lack of sleep. Literature suggests these expressions are related to the onset of anxiety prior to taking cognitive tests, and contribute to potentially offering an excuse in anticipation of poor performance. Additionally, 3 out of 15 participants noted that even though the tasks were simple, they felt unintelligent because they did not complete the tasks to their best abilities (e.g., “I felt stupid. It was simple”). Findings from this pilot support the negative impact stereotype threats have on feelings of inadequacy and increase of anxiety levels among ethnic minorities in testing settings. Further emphases on examining the usability and user experience of application-based tests are needed, particularly within a diverse population of aging adults to facilitate more culturally competent neuropsychological testing experiences.