Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In military fl ight, pilots must maintain a high
performance level to ensure the success of a mission. During fl ight, pilots
can be exposed to diff erent internal and external stressors such as fatigue
and hypoxia that can aff ect their alertness levels and as a result their
fl ight performance. A fl ight is composed of many fl ight performance
aspects. However, not all of these aspects are equally important for the
success of a mission. When investigating the infl uence of a stressor on
fl ight performance, it is important to understand not only which fl ight
performance aspects are important for the success of a mission, but also
which of these aspects will be most aff ected by reduced pilot alertness.
METHOD: A total of 136 helicopter pilots of the Royal Netherlands Air
Force (RNLAF) of all pilot qualifi cation levels were invited to participate in
a three-round ranking Delphi study. The fi rst round included all the pilots,
regardless of their qualifi cation level. The second and third rounds
included only the fl ight instructors. After the fi rst round all the terms
describing the same aspect were grouped and provided with one
consolidated description. In the second and third rounds the fl ight
instructors received consolidated lists of the items from the previous
round in a random order. RESULTS: 41 (30%) pilots completed the fi rst
questionnaire round and 20 (77%) fl ight instructors completed the
ranking round. After the fi rst questionnaire round a total of 21 consolidated groups were identifi ed. The 21 groups were composed of fi ve
technical skill (TS) elements and 16 non-technical skill (NTS) elements.
The top ten ranked skills elements were comprised out of seven NTS –
namely awareness of the environment, decision making, workload
management, stress management, planning and coordinating, general
knowledge, and basic fi tness – and three TS, that is, advanced aircraft
handling, fl ight maneuvers and procedures, and abnormal and emergency procedures. The top three ranked skill elements (awareness of
environment, decision making, and workload management) were
considered by the fl ight instructors to be most highly infl uenced by
reduced pilot alertness. CONCLUSION: NTS are considered more
important and more aff ected by reduced pilot alertness during
operational helicopter fl ight compared to TS. During fl ight, poor NTS can
increase the chance of error, which in turn can increase the chance of an
adverse event, even if the pilot has high TS
performance level to ensure the success of a mission. During fl ight, pilots
can be exposed to diff erent internal and external stressors such as fatigue
and hypoxia that can aff ect their alertness levels and as a result their
fl ight performance. A fl ight is composed of many fl ight performance
aspects. However, not all of these aspects are equally important for the
success of a mission. When investigating the infl uence of a stressor on
fl ight performance, it is important to understand not only which fl ight
performance aspects are important for the success of a mission, but also
which of these aspects will be most aff ected by reduced pilot alertness.
METHOD: A total of 136 helicopter pilots of the Royal Netherlands Air
Force (RNLAF) of all pilot qualifi cation levels were invited to participate in
a three-round ranking Delphi study. The fi rst round included all the pilots,
regardless of their qualifi cation level. The second and third rounds
included only the fl ight instructors. After the fi rst round all the terms
describing the same aspect were grouped and provided with one
consolidated description. In the second and third rounds the fl ight
instructors received consolidated lists of the items from the previous
round in a random order. RESULTS: 41 (30%) pilots completed the fi rst
questionnaire round and 20 (77%) fl ight instructors completed the
ranking round. After the fi rst questionnaire round a total of 21 consolidated groups were identifi ed. The 21 groups were composed of fi ve
technical skill (TS) elements and 16 non-technical skill (NTS) elements.
The top ten ranked skills elements were comprised out of seven NTS –
namely awareness of the environment, decision making, workload
management, stress management, planning and coordinating, general
knowledge, and basic fi tness – and three TS, that is, advanced aircraft
handling, fl ight maneuvers and procedures, and abnormal and emergency procedures. The top three ranked skill elements (awareness of
environment, decision making, and workload management) were
considered by the fl ight instructors to be most highly infl uenced by
reduced pilot alertness. CONCLUSION: NTS are considered more
important and more aff ected by reduced pilot alertness during
operational helicopter fl ight compared to TS. During fl ight, poor NTS can
increase the chance of error, which in turn can increase the chance of an
adverse event, even if the pilot has high TS
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 245 |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2019 |
| Event | Aerospace Medical Association Annual Scientific Meetings - Las-Vegas, United States Duration: 5 May 2019 → 9 May 2019 Conference number: 90 |
Conference
| Conference | Aerospace Medical Association Annual Scientific Meetings |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Las-Vegas |
| Period | 5/05/2019 → 9/05/2019 |