Workload Influence on Fatigue Related Psychological and Physiological Performance Changes of Aviators

Abstract

ObjectiveWe evaluated a variety of non-invasive physiological technologies and a series of test approaches for examination of aviator performances under conditions of mental workload in order to provide a standard real-time test for physiological and psychological pilot fatigue assessments.MethodsTwenty-one male aviators were selected for a simulated flight in a hypobaric cabin with artificial altitude conditions of 2400 meter above sea level. The simulated flight lasted for 1.5 h, and was repeated for two times with an intervening 0.5 h rest period outside the hypobaric cabin. Subjective criteria (a fatigue assessment instrument [FAI]) and objective criteria (a standing-position balance test as well as a critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) test) were used for fatigue evaluations.ResultsNo significant change was observed in the FAI scores before and after the simulated flight, indicating that there was no subjective fatigue feeling among the participants. However, significant differences were observed in the standing-position balance and CFF tests among the subjects, suggesting that psychophysiological indexes can reflect mental changes caused by workload to a certain extent. The CFF test was the simplest and clearly indicated the occurrence of workload influences on pilot performances after a simulated flight.ConclusionsResults showed that the CFF test was the easiest way to detect workload caused mental changes after a simulated flight in a hypobaric cabin and reflected the psychophysiological state of aviators. We suggest that this test might be used as an effective routine method for evaluating the workload influences on mental conditions of aviators.

How to measure fatigue among pilots?

“…Measurements used for recognizing fatigue among pilots were discussed in different articles. For example, Ma et al (2014) evaluated a series of test approaches (subjective and objective reports of fatigue) for pilot performance examination under mental workload conditions and found out that critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) test was the easiest way to detect mental workload. Taneja (2007) constructed questionnaire for measuring fatigue (about sleep, circadian rhythms, shift work, understanding of fatigue and countermeasures).…”

“…Our aim was to identify the tendencies in the literature about measuring fatigue among pilots. Ma et al (2014) argued that CFF may become a novel method to evaluate mental workload of pilots, which influences their mental conditions and is the easiest way to evaluate mental workload to fatigue. Petrie and Dawson (1997), using Self-Constructed Fatigue Questionnaire (symptoms, coping strategies of fatigue), suggested that symptoms of fatigue can be grouped into five categories: cognitive dysfunction, sleepiness, emotional disturbance, boredom and physical effects.…”

“…Fatigue is a major cause of flight accidents (Ma et al, 2014) and therefore it represents a major problem in aviation (Petrie, Dawson, 1997). According to Taneja (2007) almost three quarters of pilots consider fatigue as a widespread problem in aviation.…”

“…In comparison, Caldwel (2005) found out that 75 % of pilots acknowledge fatigue as a major problem in job and Petrie et al (2004) in their study determined that 64 % of pilots reported to be fatigued due to their work. Factors that may cause fatigue are sleep loss, circadian rhythm disruption, shift work (Akerstedt, 1995;Taneja, 2007), cabin noise, vibrations, pressure changes (Ma et al, 2014), long working hours, crossing of time zones (van Drongelen, 2013), irregular duties (Petrie, Dawson, 1997), night flights, jet-lag, early wake-ups (Bourgeois-Bougrine et al, 2003).…”

A structural equation analysis of vessel traffic controllers' fatigue factors

“…Ma et al (2014) evaluated a variety of non-invasive physiological technologies and a series of test approaches for examination of aviator performances under conditions of mental workload in order to provide a standard real-time test for physiological and psychological pilot fatigue assessments. Ma et al (2014) evaluated a variety of non-invasive physiological technologies and a series of test approaches for examination of aviator performances under conditions of mental workload in order to provide a standard real-time test for physiological and psychological pilot fatigue assessments.…”