Suchergebnisse

ObjectiveThe study was designed to investigate whether a simulated unexpected abnormal flight event can lead to startle and explore differences in behavioral responses between expected and unexpected abnormal flight events.BackgroundRecent research suggests startle (an autonomic response to an acute stimulus) following unexpected abnormal flight events can impact pilot performance and can increase the probability of a negative outcome following the event.MethodInformation processing, physiological measures, and performance differences between responses to expected and unexpected flight events were compared. General aviation (GA) pilots flew a series of flights in a fixed-base flight simulator including two experimental flights which included an unexpected and an expected, engine failure. During the flights, heart rate, eye tracking, and flight data were recorded.ResultsDuring the unexpected engine failure, pilots showed greater increases in heart rate and pupil dilation. Significant differences in scanning were evident with fewer areas scanned following the unexpected event. During the unexpected engine failure, performance was impaired when compared to the expected events. However, poor performance was not associated with higher levels of arousal.ConclusionThe study provides an empirical demonstration of impaired pilot response to unexpected events with associated symptoms consistent with the induction of startle. The present research builds on Landman et al.'s conceptual model of startle and surprise.ApplicationStandardized training protocols may not adequately prepare pilots to deal with the unexpected effects of startle in real-world encounters. Introducing greater variety into training events may be useful. The effects of startle in disrupting well-trained responses may also occur in areas other than aviation where critical events may occur unexpectedly or present in an unfamiliar manner.

Recent "naturalistic" theories of decision making emphasize the role of stored prior experiences or cases as a guide to current action. However, there is little empirical evidence on the role that case-based remindings play in real-life decision making. The present study utilized a Web-based survey to collect data about the role of prior cases in pilot decision making about critical flight events. Results showed that more than half of the 1081 pilots who responded could provide details about utilizing a previous case in responding to a critical flight event. These events were most likely to involve weather or equipment failure. The cases were found to be useful in situational assessment rather than option evaluation. The use of cases increased with age and experience. Data obtained from a concurrent conventional survey showed broadly similar results. The implications of these results are that case-based remindings play an important role in expert pilot decision making and that a training system that incorporates case-based learning would be a potentially useful means of improving pilot decision making. Actual or potential applications of this research include the development of case-based training systems to enhance flight training.

Inappropriate and ineffective weather-related decision making continues to account for a significant proportion of general aviation fatalities in the United States and elsewhere. This study details the evaluation of a computer-based training system that was developed to provide visual pilots with the skills necessary to recognize and respond to the cues associated with deteriorating weather conditions during flight. A total of 66 pilots were assigned to one of two groups, and the evaluation process was undertaken at both a self-report and performance level. At the self-report level, the results suggested that pilots were more likely to use the cues following exposure to the training program. From a performance perspective, there is evidence to suggest that cue-based training can improve the timeliness of weather-related decision making during visual flight rules flight. Actual or potential applications of this research include the development of computer-based training systems for fault diagnosis in complex industrial environments.

Objective: The study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of a manipulation derived from social categorization and social identity theory to promote greater cabin crew willingness to engage in intergroup communication and teamwork in airline operations. Background: Failures of communication and teamwork between airline crew have been implicated in a number of airline crashes. Method: Flight attendants based domestically ( n = 254) or overseas ( n = 230) received a manipulation designed to prime either their social identity or personal identity and then read a brief outline of an in-flight event before completing a teamwork questionnaire. Results: Flight attendants who received a social identity prime indicated increased willingness to engage in coordinated team action compared with those who received a personal identity prime. Conclusion: Priming social identity can enhance attitudes toward teamwork and communication, potentially leading to increased willingness to engage in intergroup cooperation. Application: Social categorization and social identity theories can be used to inform joint training program development for flight attendants and pilots to create increased willingness for group members to participate in effective communication and teamwork behaviors.

Visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) is a major safety hazard in general aviation. In this study we examined pilots' decisions to continue or divert from a VFR flight into IMC during a dynamic simulation of a cross-country flight. Pilots encountered IMC either early or later into the flight, and the amount of time and distance pilots flew into the adverse weather prior to diverting was recorded. Results revealed that pilots who encountered the deteriorating weather earlier in the flight flew longer into the weather prior to diverting and had more optimistic estimates of weather conditions than did pilots who encountered the deteriorating weather later in the flight. Both the time and distance traveled into the weather prior to diverting were negatively correlated with pilots' previous flight experience. These findings suggest that VFR flight into IMC may be attributable, at least in part, to poor situation assessment and experience rather than to motivational judgment that induces risk-taking behavior as more time and effort are invested in a flight. Actual or potential applications of this research include the design of interventions that focus on improving weather evaluation skills in addition to addressing risk-taking attitudes.

ObjectiveWe describe a networked, two-user virtual reality (VR) power wheelchair (PWC) simulator system in which an actor (client) and an observer (clinician) meet. We then present a study with 15 observers (expert clinicians) evaluating the effect of three principal forms of viewpoint control (egocentric-egomotion, egocentric-tethered, and client-centric) on the observer's assessment of driving tasks in a virtual environment (VE).BackgroundVR allows for the simulation and assessment of real-world tasks in a controlled, safe, and repeatable environment. Observing users' movement behavior in such a VE requires appropriate viewpoint control for the observer. The VR viewpoint user interface should allow an observer to make judgments equivalent or even superior to real-world situations.MethodA purpose-built VR PWC simulator was developed. In a series of PWC driving tasks, we measured the perceived ease of use and sense of presence of the observers and compared the virtual assessment with real-world "gold standard" scores, including confidence levels in judgments.ResultsFindings suggest that with more immersive techniques, such as egomotion and tethered egocentric viewpoints, judgments are both more accurate and more confident. The ability to walk and/or orbit around the view significantly affected the observers' sense of presence.ConclusionIncorporating the observer into the VE, through egomotion, is an effective method for assessing users' behavior in VR with implications for the transferability of virtual experiences to the real world.ApplicationOur application domain serves as a representative example for tasks where the movement of users through a VE needs to be evaluated.

Objective:The present study investigated whether performance across a range of cue-based cognitive tasks differentiated the diagnostic performance of power control operators into three distinct groups, characteristic of novice, competence, and expertise.Background:Despite its increasing importance in the contemporary workplace, there is little understanding of the cognitive processes that distinguish novice, competent, and expert performance in the context of remote diagnosis. However, recent evidence suggests that cue acquisition and utilization may represent a mechanism by which the transition from novice to expertise occurs.Method:The study involved the application of four distinct cue-based tasks within the context of power system control. A total of 65 controllers, encompassing a range of industry experience, completed the tasks as part of an in-service training program.Results:Using a cluster analysis, it was possible to extract three distinct groups of operators on the basis of their performance in the cue-based tasks, and these groups corresponded to differences in diagnostic performance.Conclusion:The results indicate assessments of the capacity to extract and utilize cues were able to distinguish expert from competent practitioners in the context of power control.Application:Assessments of the capacity to extract and utilize cues may be used in the future to distinguish expert from nonexpert practitioners, particularly in the context of remote diagnosis.