The relationship between manual handling performance and recent flying experience in air transport pilots

Abstract

Modern jet transport aircraft are typically flown using the on-board automation by the pilot programming commands into the auto-flight systems. Anecdotal evidence exists suggesting that pilots of highly automated aircraft experience manual flying skills decay as a result of a lack of opportunity to practise hand-flying during line operations. The ability of a pilot to revert to basic manual control is essential, for example, in cases where the aircraft's automatic capability is diminished or when reconfiguring the automatics is an ineffective use of crew capacity. However, there is a paucity of objective data to substantiate this perceived threat to flight safety. Furthermore, traditional performance measurement techniques may lack the ability to identify subtle but significant differences in pilots' manual handling ability in large transport aircraft. This study examines the relationship between pilot manual handling performance and their recent flying experience using both traditional flight path tracking measures and frequency-based control strategy measures. Significant relationships are identified between pilots' very recent flying experience and their manual control strategy. Statement of Relevance: The study demonstrates a novel application of frequency analysis, which produces a broader and more sensitive analysis of pilot performance than has been offered in previous research. Additionally, the relationships that are found to exist between recent flying experience and manual flying performance will help to guide future pilot assessment and training.

Pilots’ gaze strategies and manual control performance using occlusion as a measurement technique during a simulated manual flight task

“…However, the usage of occlusion allows for a more systematic analysis of information processing under restricted conditions. The observed flightpath deviations show similar amplitudes compared to other flight simulator studies (Ebbatson et al 2010;Haslbeck and Hörmann 2016), thus indicating that the occlusion conditions in this study did affect the participants but did not lead to a complete failure in the manual flying task (Table 6). Thus, occlusion appears as an approach to generate valid data to analyze pilots' performance under conditions of restricted visual resources (see Gray et al 2008).…”

To twist, roll, stroke or poke? A study of input devices for menu navigation in the cockpit

“…Morris and Leung 2006) and error (e.g. Stanton et al 2009) in addition to technological factors such as display design, HMI and automation (Lintern, Waite, and Talleur 1999;Xu, Wickens, and Rantanen 2007;Ebbatson et al 2010).…”

Human Factors Approaches and Models in LOC-I Accident Analysis and Prevention: Flight Crew Resource Management Techniques as a Risk Mitigation Tool

“…Casner and his team concluded that basic instrument scanning and aircraft control skills are reasonably well retained when the cockpit automation is used. However, in line with Ebbatson et al [38] observed that these skills could be subject to a certain degree of "rustiness" if not well maintained. They concluded that that the quality and accuracy in the retention of cognitive resources for manual flight path control depends on the degree to which flight crews remain actively engaged in the human-machine loop of supervising the cockpit automation.…”