Executive Functions and Pilot Characteristics Predict Flight Simulator Performance in General Aviation Pilots

In general aviation, 85% of the crashes seem to be caused by pilots' errors ( Li, Baker, Grabowski, & Rebok, 2001 ) and 46% of the crashes occur at airports ( Li & Baker, 1999 ). It is important to determine if the same factors influence the flying performance and the landing decision m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The International journal of aviation psychology 2011-07, Vol.21 (3), p.217-234
Main Authors: Causse, Mickaël, Dehais, Frédéric, Pastor, Josette
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aeronautics
Aviation
Cognitive ability
Crashes
Decision making
Flight
Flight simulation
General aviation
Medicine
Memory
Pilots
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Summary:In general aviation, 85% of the crashes seem to be caused by pilots' errors ( Li, Baker, Grabowski, & Rebok, 2001 ) and 46% of the crashes occur at airports ( Li & Baker, 1999 ). It is important to determine if the same factors influence the flying performance and the landing decision making and to uncover which factors, among the pilot's cognitive status, personality traits, and experience, are the most predictive. We examined in 24 general aviation pilots the relationship between those factors and the flying performance and weather-related decision-making relevance. The cognitive assessment encompassed the three basic executive functions ( Miyake et al., 2000 ), reasoning, and psychomotor velocity. The personal characteristics were age, flight experience, and level of impulsivity. Reasoning, updating in working memory, and flight experience were predictive of the flight performance. In addition, updating in working memory, flight experience, and level of impulsivity were linked with weather-related decision-making relevance.
ISSN:1050-8414
1532-7108
DOI:10.1080/10508414.2011.582441