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The Effects of Training and Flight Director Use on Pilot Monitoring Performance: A Sensemaking Approach

NASA NTRS · Technical Memorandum (TM) · 20220005742 · Published 2022-04-20 · Ames Research Center · 8 authors

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Abstract and citation only, verbatim from NASA NTRS; full text lives there. All credit to the authors and Ames Research Center.

Abstract

The need for improved pilot monitoring and awareness has been widely recognized, and training is a possible intervention. Based on our sensemaking-model of monitoring, we identified key properties of monitoring flight path. We designed scenarios with associated behavioral markers that provide measures of monitoring performance and a short training module emphasizing our proactive, anticipatory view of monitoring. Nineteen first officers from a major US airline participated in the training study. Each pilot flew in a simulator pretest, participated in a training session, and flew in a simulator posttest. We found modest but significant improvements in monitoring. The study collected video, simulator, and eyetracking data and also manipulated whether the Flight Director was on or off. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Authors

  • Dorrit Billman San Jose State University
  • Randall J. Mumaw San Jose State University
  • Peter M. T. Zaal Metis Technology Solutions, Inc.
  • Thomas J. Lombaerts Wyle (United States)
  • Isabel Torron San Jose State University
  • Saad Jamal San Jose State University
  • Megan Shyr Ames Research Center
  • Michael Feary Ames Research Center

Keywords

  • monitoring
  • pilot training
  • sensemaking

Citation

Dorrit Billman, Randall J. Mumaw, Peter M. T. Zaal , et al. (2022). The Effects of Training and Flight Director Use on Pilot Monitoring Performance: A Sensemaking Approach. Ames Research Center. NASA NTRS ID 20220005742. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20220005742 ↗