Workload of AFA instructors when conducting formation flights training on the T-27 aircraft

Authors

  • Marcelo Furtado de Almeida Corpo de alunos, Escola Preparatória de Cadetes do Ar, EPCAR, Barbacena, MG, Brasil
  • Fábio Angioluci Diniz Campos Academia da Força Aérea , AFA, Pirassununga, SP, Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22480/rev.unifa.2024.37.616

Keywords:

Aviators, workload, flight instruction

Abstract

The high cognitive demand inherent in flying is identified as a fundamental factor contributing 
substantially to pilots’ workload (WL). This WL, in turn, impacts fatigue, performance, and flight safety. The proposed study aims to evaluate the WL of military flight instructors. Delving into the conceptualization and measurement of WL, the study acknowledges its subjective nature,  influenced by various dimensions. The research was conducted with 22 flight instructors from the Air Force Academy (AFA), focusing on formation flights. Methodological procedures included the use of the NASA-TLX questionnaire to measure instructors’ perception of WL. The results indicate 
significantly elevated levels of WL, with particular attention to dimensions such as Performance, 
Mental Demand, and Effort. This pronounced WL is associated with the constant need to monitor 
crucial details during training flights, especially when supervising pilots in formation to ensure the quality of instruction and flight safety. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of analyzing the WL of flight instructors to understand the levels of stress involved and the most influential dimensions in this context. Understanding the intensity of WL and the areas that 
contribute most to its formation is relevant for adopting mitigating measures and managing the 
mental condition of flight instructors.

Author Biographies

  • Marcelo Furtado de Almeida, Corpo de alunos, Escola Preparatória de Cadetes do Ar, EPCAR, Barbacena, MG, Brasil

     Mayor Aviador de la Fuerza Aérea Brasileña. Cuenta con una maestría del Programa de Posgrado en Desempeño Humano Operacional (PPGDHO) de la Universidad de la Fuerza Aérea (UNIFA). 
    Completó el Curso de Capacitación de Oficiales de Aviación en la Academia de la Fuerza Aérea - AFA (2009). Es Licenciado en Ciencias Aeronáuticas, con titulación 
    en Aviación Militar, y en Administración, con énfasis en Administración Pública, tanto por AFA (2009). Cuenta con Cursos de Extensión en Gerencia de Proyectos de la Universidad Leonardo da Vinci - UNIASSELVI (2020) y MBA "lato sensu" en Gestión Público con énfasis en Proyectos y Procesos de UNIFA (2021). Tiene experiencia en 7 años como instructor de vuelo en AFA. Actualmente trabaja en la formación de futuros Cadetes de la Fuerza Aérea, siendo oficial del Cuerpo de Estudiantes de la Escuela Preparatoria de 
    Cadetes del Aire – EPCAR, en la ciudad de Barbacena-MG.

  • Fábio Angioluci Diniz Campos, Academia da Força Aérea , AFA, Pirassununga, SP, Brasil

    She holds a Full Degree in Physical Education from the State University of Londrina (2003), a Specialization in Exercise Physiology from the Federal University of São Paulo (2005) and a Master's Degree in Physical Education from the University of São Paulo (2011). PhD in Human Movement Sciences from the Methodist University of Piracicaba (2017). Effective Professor of Basic, Technical and Technological Education at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Goiano - Ceres Campus during the years 2019 and 2020. Professor and advisor of the Graduate Program in Operational Human Performance (PPGDHO) at the University of the Air Force (UNIFA). She has experience in the area of Physical Education in the area of Biodynamics of Human Movement (Operational Human Performance).

References

BEZERRA, F. G. V; RIBEIRO, S. L. O. Preliminary study of the pilot’s workload during emergency procedures in helicopters air operations. Work (Reading, Mass.), Netherlands, v. 41 Suppl 1, p. 225–231, 2012. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2012-0161-225.

CAIN, B. A Review of the Mental Workload Literature. Defence research and development Toronto (Canada), n. 1998, p. 4-1-4–34, 2007.

CAO, X.; MACNAUGHTON, P.; CADET, L. R.; CEDENO-LAURENT, J. G.; FLANIGAN, S.; VALLARINO, J.; DONNELLY-MCLAY, D.; CHRISTIANI, D. C.; SPENGLER, J. D.; ALLEN, J. G. Heart rate variability and performance of commercial airline pilots during flight simulations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, v. 16, n. 2, 2019. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16020237.

CHARLES, R. L.; NIXON, J. Measuring mental workload using physiological measures: A systematic review. Applied Ergonomics, v. 74, n. September 2016, p. 221–232, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2018.08.028.

DINIZ, R. L.; GUIMARÃES, L. B. D. M. Avaliação das demandas física e mental no trabalho do cirurgião em procecimentos eletivos. 2003. 210 f. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 2003.

DUNCAN, J. Pilot ’ s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, p. 524, 2016.

GARCÍA-MAS, A.; ORTEGA, E.; PONSETI, J.; TERESA, C. De; CÁRDENAS, D. Medicina del Deporte Workload and cortisol levels in helicopter combat pilots during simulated flights. Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte, v. 9, n. 1, p. 7–11, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ramd.2015.12.001.

GRECO, P. C.; CATALANO, F. M.; SOUTO, A. R. P.; RIBEIRO, M. L.; GIORIA, R. S. Historical review and analysis of Santos Dumont’s 14-BIS. 41st Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, n. January, 2003. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2003-99.

GRIER, R. A. How high is high? A meta-analysis of NASA-TLX global workload scores. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, v. 2015-Janua, p. 1727–1731, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541931215591373.

HANCOCK, G. M.; LONGO, L.; YOUNG, M. S.; HANCOCK, P. A. Mental Workload. Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics, p. 203–226, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119636113.ch7.

HART, S. G. NASA-task load index (NASA-TLX); 20 years later. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, p. 904–908, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1177/154193120605000909.

HART, S. G.; STAVELAND, L. E. Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of empirical and theoretical research. HANCOCK, P. A.; MESHKATI, N., n. Amsterdam: North-Holland, p. 139–183, 1988. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10749-010-0111-6.

HEBBAR, P. A.; BHATTACHARYA, K.; PRABHAKAR, G.; PASHILKAR, A. A.; BISWAS, P. Correlation Between Physiological and Performance-Based Metrics to Estimate Pilots’ Cognitive Workload. Frontiers in Psychology, v. 12, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.555446.

HERTZUM, M. Reference values and subscale patterns for the task load index (TLX): a meta-analytic review. Ergonomics, v. 64, n. 7, p. 869–878, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2021.1876927.

KRAMER, A. F.; SIREVAAG, E. J.; BRAUNE, R. A psychophysiological assessment of operator workload during simulated flight missions. Human factors, United States, v. 29, n. 2, p. 145–160, abr. 1987. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872088702900203.

LYSAGHT, R. J.; HILL, S. G.; DICK, a O.; PLAMONDON, B. D.; LINTON, P. M.; WIERWILLE, W. W.; ZAKLAD, a L.; BITTNER JR, a C.; WHERRY, R. J. Operator workload: Comprehensive review and evaluation of operator workload methodologies. United States Army Research Institute for the Behavioral Sciences, Technical Report, v. 851, p. 903–986, 1989.

MCDALE, S.; MA, J. Effects of fatigue on flight training: A survey of U.S. part 141 flight schools. International Journal of Applied Aviation Studies, v. 8, n. 2, p. 311–336, 2008.

MURPHY, J. D. Military Aircraft, Origins to 1918: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. Santa Barbara; CA: ABC-CLIO, 2005.

ROLFE, J. M. Whither workload? Applied Ergonomics, v. 4, n. 1, p. 8–10, 1973. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-6870(73)90003-3.

ROUWHORST, W.; VERHOEVEN, R.; SUIJKERBUIJK, M.; BOS, T.; MAIJ, A.; VERMAAT, M.; ARENTS, R. Use of Touch Screen Display Applications for Aircraft Flight Control. Digital Avionics Systems Conf. (DASC), v. 36th, n. IEEE/AIAA, p. 1–10, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1201/b17346-12.

TAO, D.; TAN, H.; WANG, H.; ZHANG, X.; QU, X.; ZHANG, T. A systematic review of physiological measures of mental workload. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, v. 16, n. 15, p. 1–23, 2019. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152716.

VELTMAN, J. A.; GAILLARD, A. W. K. Physiological indices of workload in a simulated flight task. Biological Psychology, v. 42, n. 3, p. 323–342, 1996. https://doi.org/10.1016/0301-0511(95)05165-1.

VILLAFAINA, S.; FUENTES-GARCÍA, D. J. P.; GUSI, N.; TORNERO-AGUILERA, J. F.; CLEMENTE-SUÁREZ, V. J. Psychophysiological response of military pilots in different combat flight maneuvers in a flight simulator. Physiology & behavior, United States, v. 238, p. 113483, set. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113483.

VIRTANEN, K.; MANSIKKA, H.; KONTIO, H.; HARRIS, D. Weight watchers: NASA-TLX weights revisited. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, v. 23, n. 6, p. 725–748, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1080/1463922X.2021.2000667.

WANG, Z.; FU, S. Evaluation of a strapless heart rate monitor during simulated flight tasks. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, v. 13, n. 3, p. 185–192, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2015.1101121.

WILSON, G.F. An Analysis of Mental Workload in Pilots During Flight Using Multiple Psychophysiological Measures. International Journal of Aviation Psychology, v. 12, n. 1 SPEC, p. 3–18, 2002. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327108ijap1201_2.

WISE, J. A.; HOPKIN, V. D.; GARLAND, D. J. (Ed.). Handbook of aviation human factors. CRC press, 2010.

ZHENG, Y.; LU, Y.; JIE, Y.; FU, S. Predicting Workload Experienced in a Flight Test by Measuring Workload in a Flight Simulator. Aerospace medicine and human performance, China, v. 90, n. 7, p. 618–623, jul. 2019. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.5350.2019.

Downloads

Published

2024-09-20

Issue

Vol. 37 (2024): Revista da UNIFA

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Marcelo Furtado de Almeida, Fábio Angioluci Diniz Campos

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Revista da UNIFA permite que o (s) autor (es) mantenha(m) seus direitos autorais sem restrições. Atribuição-NãoComercial 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC 4.0) - Revista da UNIFA é regida pela licença CC-BY-NC

How to Cite

Workload of AFA instructors when conducting formation flights training on the T-27 aircraft. The Journal of the University of the Air Force , Rio de Janeiro, v. 37, p. 1–16, 2024. DOI: 10.22480/rev.unifa.2024.37.616. Disponível em: https://revistadaunifa.fab.mil.br/index.php/reunifa/article/view/616.. Acesso em: 20 sep. 2024.

Similar Articles

1-10 of 330

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.