Hinnerk Eißfeldt

Future Ability Requirements for Human Operators in Aviation

The present study addresses the optimal fit between technical innovations in aviation and aircraft operators. Because of the increase in computerization, an accurate and efficient monitoring of the automation poses a key challenge to future operators. As the German Aerospace Centers Department of Aviation and Space Psychology is responsible for personnel selection of pilots and air traffic controllers, our objective for the selection of future personnel is to distinguish good monitoring operators from bad operators. In order to identify good monitoring behavior we developed a simulation tool that represents tasks of pilots and controllers within a dynamic air traffic flow. Participants have either to monitor the automatic process or to control the dynamic traffic manually. Monitoring behavior is measured by recording eye movement parameters. The identification of accurate monitoring behavior enables us to adapt selection profiles to future ability requirements.

Differences in Monitoring between Experts and Novices

In the future of aviation, operators will have to work with highly automated systems. This necessitates operators monitoring appropriately (OMA). A theoretical model for adequate monitoring behavior was developed and eye movement parameters were defined to identify OMA. The present eye-tracking study focused on differences in monitoring behavior between experts (experienced pilots and air traffic controllers) and job applicants. Results from 21 experts and 33 applicants are reported.