The Effects of Automation and Task Difficulty on Crew Coordination, Workload, and Performance

The purposes of this research were two-fold: (1) to assess the reliability and utility of the Aircrew Coordination Observation and Evaluation scales in describing crew coordination behaviors exhibited during flight and (2) to investigate the effects of automation on crew coordination, workload, and performance. Two levels of automation (i.e., presence or absence of an autopilot) and two levels of task difficulty (i.e., presence or absence of wind and turbulence) were combined to yield a 2 x 2 design. Twenty-four two-person crews performed in both levels of automation and one of two levels of task difficulty. The results of the reliability assessment demonstrated that the training procedures and behavioral summary scale anchors that were developed produced adequate levels of interrater reliability in this investigation. The results of the crew coordination analyses revealed differences in the frequency and quality of crew coordination behaviors between levels of automation. Ratings of crew coordination were also shown to be related to performance. The results also indicated that although crews in the automated condition reported less workload, only one of the three measures of flight performance was improved. In addition, under high task difficulty, problem solving performance was worse in the automated condition than in the manual condition. Interpretation and suggestions for future research are discussed

Aerospace medicine and biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 327)

This bibliography lists 127 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information System during August, 1989. Subject coverage includes: aerospace medicine and psychology, life support systems and controlled environments, safety equipment, exobiology and extraterrestrial life, and flight crew behavior and performance

Collaborative Audio Transcription and Repair as a Method for Novice Pilots to Learn Approach Briefing Crew Resource Management (CRM) Skills

The growth of aviation in scope, scale, and complexity increases the demands for student learning, including crew resource management (CRM) skills. Instructor facilitated methods have proven effective for CRM skill learning. This study investigated a method of collaborative audio transcription and repair based learning (CTRBL) offering the potential for reduced demand upon instructor resources for CRM learning. The theorybased CTRBL method was used in this study as a way for novice pilots to learn the CRM skill of conducting a crew approach briefing with a focus on risk mitigation. Learning methods used to develop the CTRBL method were drawn from facilitated scenario-based training in aviation, instructional methods in language learning, and discourse analysis in aviation. The CTRBL method effectiveness was evaluated by a quasi-experimental method using 42 participants formed into 21 dyadic groups. The results suggest that CTRBL is a manageable, independent student activity that is perceived by learners to be nearly as enjoyable as comparable ground-based CRM learning methods. Participants self-rated their post-treatment crew briefings higher than their pre-treatment briefings, and subject matter experts rated post-treatment crew briefings higher than pre-treatment briefings, suggesting the CTRBL method resulted in learning. Recommendations are made for future applications and research of CTRBL

The Effect of Simulator Platform Motion on Pilot Training Transfer: A Meta-Analysis

A meta-analytic (MA) approach was used to generate an estimate of true mean effect size (δ) for simulator motion with regard to pilot training transfer. The analysis was based on the techniques developed by Hunter and Schmidt (1990). A d statistic was used for effect size calculations based on information available in the included sources. Eleven studies were reviewed and considered for analysis, but only seven of these included the information necessary for calculating effect size and were included in the study. The result of the MA suggest a small, positive effect for motion, d = .16. No credibility interval could be built around this estimate of population mean effect size because the resulting sampling error variance was larger than the observed variance in d across the assessed studies. This led to a negative variance estimate for δ and subsequently an estimated SDδ of 0. These results suggest that simulator motion has a small, positive effect on pilot training transfer and contradict an earlier MA on the same subject. The small sample size (few studies) and methodological shortcomings within the included studies require that the findings be interpreted cautiously. Alternative interpretations and their implications for the aviation training community are discussed

Behavioural markers for the assessment of competence in crisis management

A lack of competence in crisis management has been shown to be a causal factor in a number of recent maritime accidents. In safety critical industries other than commercial shipping, such as civil aviation, nuclear and petrochemical, research is being undertaken to identify behavioural markers that can be used to assess competence in crisis management. Although there is now a general acceptance of the core concepts for the non-technical or resource management skills required for competence in crisis management, there is also an acceptance that the behaviours associated with these skills are context specific. This research programme improves the understanding of how a behavioural marker system can be used to assess the competence in crisis management of merchant marine engineering officers within the context of a merchant vessel engine control room. This research reviews the current practice in using behavioural markers for the assessment of competence in crisis management within safety critical industries and the military. The differences between the assessment frameworks and environments in which behavioural markers are currently being used for this assessment of competence are discussed. The influences of these differences on the use of behavioural markers for the assessment of competence in crisis management within the context of a merchant vessel engine room control room are investigated. Through the use of ethnographic study, the research presents a set of behavioural markers that can be used to assess competence in crisis management within the context of a simulated merchant vessel's engine room control room. The research concludes that these behavioural markers can be used as a valid objective assessment framework for the assessment of ocompetence in crisis management of merchant navy engineering officers

Tracking Visual Scanning Techniques in Training Simulation for Helicopter Landing

Research has shown no consistent findings about how scanning techniques differ between experienced and inexperienced helicopter pilots depending on mission demands. To explore this question, 33 military pilots performed two different landing maneuvers in a flight simulator. The data included scanning data (eye tracking) as well as performance, workload, and a self-assessment of scanning techniques (interviews). Fifty-four percent of scanning-related differences between pilots resulted from the factor combination of expertise and mission demands. A comparison of eye tracking and interview data revealed that pilots were not always clearly aware of their actual scanning techniques. Eye tracking as a feedback tool for pilots offers a new opportunity to substantiate their training as well as research interests within the German Armed Forces

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Europe Chapter 2014 Annual Conference:Human Factors in high reliability industries

On the occasion of the 2014 Meeting in Lisbon, Portuga