How flight experience impacts pilots’ decision-making and visual scanning pattern in low-visibility approaches: preliminary evidence from eye tracking

Abstract

Verbatim from Semantic Scholar. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

Abstract The visual approach is the most accident-prone phase of a flight, especially in low-visibility conditions. This preliminary study aimed to examine the effects of flight experience on pilots’ decision-making and visual scanning pattern in low-visibility approaches. Twenty pilots were separated into two groups based on their flight experience and completed the high- and low-visibility approaches in balanced order using a high-fidelity flight simulator. Pilots’ mental workload and visual scanning patterns were recorded via an eye tracker. The results showed that, compared to less flight-experienced pilots (20%, 3/15), experienced pilots (80%, 4/5) were more likely to make go-around decisions in the low-visibility approaches. Furthermore, they exhibited a more flexible and adaptable visual scanning pattern by quickly shifting their attention, as evidenced by decreased fixations and increased saccades. These findings suggest that the integration of visual scanning strategy and training solution with a marginally meteorological approach may enhance decision-making safety for novice pilots. PRACTITIONER SUMMARY This study investigates the ‘expertise effects’ in visual scanning pattern, mental workload and decision-making among pilots with different levels of flight experience in a modern flight simulator. For safer decision-making, less flight-experienced pilots should enlarge their visual scanning span in a more unburdened manner, especially in low-visibility approaches.

Authors

• Shangyang Gao
• Lei Wang

Keywords

• Medicine
• Engineering
• Psychology