Psychology Commons^™

Utilizing The Alarm Taxonomy And Classification System (Atacs) To Redesign Landing Gear Warnings, Stephen Rice, Ryan Lange, Sean R. Crouse, Scott R. Winter, Ryan J. Wallace

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Alarms have been in use for many decades, yet there still needs to be more clarity about what makes a good alarm. Vendors and government agencies have developed several useful handbooks describing the Do’s and Don’ts of effective alarm design; however, to date, we cannot find a comprehensive quantitative taxonomy or classification system that allows researchers to easily score and rank various alarm designs in any field—while using a common language that users, engineers, designers, and human factors professionals can understand. The Alarm Taxonomy and Classification System (ATACS) fills this gap in the literature by breaking alarms down into categorical …

Using The Best - Worst Scale To Assess The Relative Impact Of These Behaviors On Other Passengers On The Same Flight: The Disruptive Passenger Behavior, Quynh Thi Nhu Phan, Vi Tran, Nhan Huu Huynh, Thao Phuong Huynh, Duc Nhan Ho

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

A method called the best-worst scaling method is proposed to overcome these problems by asking respondents to make tradeoffs among the variables being assessed. This paper raises issues in respect of supplementing and developing a block of disruptive behaviors exhibited by passengers during flights and assesses the impact of these behaviors on other passengers. To illustrate the proposed method and evaluate its performance, we surveyed 240 passengers, and data from 203 survey samples were analyzed. The data analysis results revealed three behaviors that were considered the most disruptive, including (1) Threatening and causing distress, (2) Harassment and disrupting public order, …

Factors Affecting Passengers’ Acceptance Of Single Pilot Operations: A Qualitative Study Conducted In Greece, Panagiotis Kioulepoglou, Ilias Makris

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Single Pilot Operations (SPO) have drawn significant attention during the last years, as a result of the increased dual flight crew expenses, and as a remedy to the impending pilot shortage which is estimated to manifest itself in the following years. The main objective of this study was to explore the factors that influence the Greek passengers’ acceptance of SPO. To that end, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed through Thematic Analysis by combining both a priori and inductive coding procedures.

Qualitative findings of this process revealed seven factors influencing passengers’ intention to accept and fly with a SPO …

Cabin Crew Members’ Silence: A Qualitative Study With Cabin Attendants, Seda Ceken, Pinar Unsal

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Silence among flight crews has been one of the significant causes of aviation incidents and/or accidents. This study aims to explore why flight attendants remain silent during flights and/or do not report errors after the end of the flight. For this purpose, semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 21 flight attendants. The data were analyzed through content analysis using the MAXQDA 22 Qualitative Analysis Program. Themes and coding related to the research question were obtained by analyzing the scripts with creative coding techniques. Nine themes were identified by the content analysis, namely "poor relationship with cabin supervisors/pilots", "the lack of …

Interactions Of International Pilots' Stress, Fatigue, Symptoms Of Depression, Anxiety, Common Mental Disorders And Wellbeing, Marion Venus, Martin Grosse Holtforth

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Objective

This study Investigates more dimensions than previous studies simultaneously: pilots’ duty rosters, stress, sleep difficulties, fatigue levels, wellbeing, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and common mental disorders (CMD), and how they are interrelated.

Background

Several scientific studies have confirmed that fatigue can pose a significant risk to flight safety. Other studies reported positive depression screening results for more pilots, compared with the general population.

Method

A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 406 international pilots, who reported their duty rosters of the last two months. Pilots also self-assessed their stress-levels, sleep problems, fatigue, wellbeing, and mental health.

Results

Although pilots …

Comparison Of Schedules, Stress, Sleep Problems, Fatigue, Mental Health And Well-Being Of Low Cost And Network Carrier Pilots, Marion Venus

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Objective

This research investigates and compares working-conditions, duty rosters, stress, sleep problems, fatigue levels, mental health, and well-being of pilots working for network (NWCs), and low-cost carriers (LCCs). This study extends previous research by investigating working conditions, pilots’ actual rosters, fatigue and mental health of two groups of pilots flying for LCC or NWC.

Method

A comprehensive cross-sectional online survey was completed by N=338 pilots (185 NWC, 153 LCC pilots). All pilots reported their roster data of the last 2 months during peak flight season, psychosocial and work-related stress (e.g., high job insecurity, less total flight-experience, lower income, more time …

Fatigue In Aircraft Maintenance Technician Schools, Natalie Zimmermann, Peng Hao Wang, Keegan Pullen

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Fatigue has long been identified as a human factor in aviation. Subsequently, a series of studies have highlighted fatigue-related elements within the context of the aviation industry, focusing on the flight deck – with some extension to flight students – and aviation maintenance activities. However, the latter has not been as deeply examined as its flight crew-centered counterpart. Similarly – if not more significantly – fatigue experienced by aircraft maintenance technician (AMT) students is scarcely explored, especially in comparison to the research conducted to understand fatigue in flight schools. AMT students are subject to comparable, but not the same, experiences …

The Persistence Of Safety Silence: How Flight Deck Microcultures Influence The Efficacy Of Crew Resource Management, Kimberly Perkins, Sourojit Ghosh, Julie Vera, Cecilia Aragon, Adam Hyland

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The majority of First Officers and Captains feel that Captains establish the tone of the flight deck microculture. However, the majority of these pilots also report that as First Officers, they have hesitated to share safety-pertinent data and/or experience being silenced after sharing safety data due to a psychologically unsafe flight deck. Utilizing direct feedback from industry pilots, we explore ways that Captains can create a more inclusive microculture that elicits safety voice. The safety system designed to enhance crew collaboration, Crew Resource Management, fails to adequately establish tools for designing a psychologically safe flight deck. We conclude that Crew …

Emotional Intelligence And Safety Citizenship Among Army Aviators, Zachary T. Dugger, Bernadette Mccrory

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the relationship between trait emotional intelligence and safety citizenship among United States Army aviators. The study includes analysis of survey responses from 29 individual aviators. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between safety citizenship, emotional intelligence, and 15 emotional intelligence facets. Results indicate a significant association (F(1,28) = 15.45; p = 0.001) between safety citizenship and emotional intelligence, and between safety citizenship and 3 emotional intelligence facets: Adaptability (F(1,25) = 23.91; p < 0.001), Self Esteem (F(1,25) = 10.75; p = 0.003), and Optimism (F(1,25) = 8.71; p = …

The Influence Of Personality, Safety Attitudes, And Risk Perception Of Pilots: A Modeling And Mediation Perspective, Scott R. Winter, Joseph R. Keebler, Tracy L. Lamb, Richard Simonson, Robert Thomas, Stephen Rice

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to assess the influence of personality traits on safety attitudes and risk perceptions. Background: The ability to accurately assess risk remains a focal point of aviation training. This research seeks to understand if safety attitudes serve as a mediator. Method: Using a sample of 2,857 pilots, a statistical model was created through two independent stages. In stage 1, approximately 50% of the data were used to create the model using structural equation modeling techniques, and in stage 2, the model was independently validated. Results: The findings indicated that personality factors positively influenced …

Impact Of Electronic Flight Bag (Efb) On Single Pilot Performance And Workload, Saravanan Suppiah, Dahai Liu, Sang-A Lee, Andrew Dattel, Dennis Vincenzi Ph.D.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The increase of automation in the aviation industry poses challenges to human performance. To attest this point, studies about aircraft accidents reveal that pilots’ response to automated systems is not always coherent. Research findings suggest that pilots’ interaction with automated systems in highly demanding task situations results in an increase in workload, and if they are unable to resolve it in time, it will compromise flight safety. Therefore, in the interest to further explore the impact of automation on human factor constructs, the study aimed to investigate the impact of Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) on pilot workload. The study measured …

Creation Of Two Valid Scales: Willingness To Fly In An Aircraft And Willingness To Pilot An Aircraft, Stephen Rice, Scott R. Winter, John Capps, Justin Trombley, John Robbins, Mattie Milner, Tracy L. Lamb

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The purpose of the current study was to develop two scales that could be used concurrently or independently to measure passenger willingness to fly (WTF), and aviator willingness to pilot (WTP), respectively. This is especially useful to determine challenges involving acceptance of new aviation technology for both pilots and passengers. There were five stages in developing the WTF scale for passengers, following Hinkin’s scale development process. Cronbach’s Alpha and Guttmann’s Split Half tests were used to confirm high internal consistency and reliability, while factor analysis was used to confirm construct validity. The scale was tested in order to confirm sensitivity …

A Practical Guide For Using Electronic Surveys In Aviation Research: Best Practices Explained, Stephen Rice, Scott R. Winter

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The purpose of this article is to provide aviation researchers who are interested in using Internet-based surveys with a justification and guide, along with best practices. A brief review of research methods, research design, and research methodologies precedes information on the types of research questions that can best be answered using survey research. The interaction of survey instruments and research design is discussed, such as using a survey instrument in an experimental design. Advantages and disadvantages of paper and electronic distribution are presented to help guide researchers into the best approach given their proposed goals. Guidance is also offered on …

Examining The Impact Of Overhearing In-Flight Cell-Phone Calls On Passenger Safety, Tianhua Li, Brooke E. Wheeler, Debbie S. Carstens Ph.D., Pmp

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Objective: The study examined the effects of passengers’ conversations on adjacent passengers’ annoyance, attention to in-flight announcements, and performance on following instructions, which could lead to passengers’ injuries. Background: Some airlines have provided services to enable in-flight cell-phone calls. However, passengers’ compliance with safety instructions is essential. Previous research demonstrated that cell-phone calls led to higher levels of distractions than face-to-face dialogues, and people were more annoyed with one-sided conversations, such as most cell-phone conversations. Method: Twenty-four participants took 30-minute simulated flights in a laboratory room. Three announcements, which instructed participants to fasten seatbelts, raise tray tables, and check seatbelts, …

Difference In Attitudes Toward Crew Resource Management Based On Nationality, Christoph Zurman, Herbert O. Hoffmann, Hans-Joachim K. Ruff-Stahl

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The E-3A Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft operates with multinational crewmembers from 15 different nations on 12 different aircrew positions. Given this non-standard cultural environment, the authors explored the differences in the attitude toward Crew Resource Management (CRM), based on nationality, and how these differences could be used as a predictor for other nationalities attitudes. The potential benefit of this study may be, that CRM methods could be developed further to either work universally, independent to national or cultural backgrounds, or be adjusted for different cultural contexts in order to be even more effective. Primary data was gathered …

Collegiate Aviation Pilots: Analyses Of Fatigue Related Decision-Making Scenarios, Julius Keller, Flavio Coimbra Mendonca Mr, Jason E. Cutter

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

According to Dawson and McCulloch (2005), indicating factors for pilot fatigue may be difficult to ascertain. However, fatigue is a probable cause in 15%-20% of all aircraft accidents (Akerstedt, 2000). It may be assumed fatigue has been important latent condition for many of the general aviation incidents and or accidents but not necessarily identified as a probable cause. Events that barely missed a detrimental situation due to fatigue, often go unnoticed and or unreported. Furthermore, fatigue can influence the quality of flight instruction and flight operations overall. The purpose of the current paper was to examine fatigue related decision-making responses …

Speech Interfaces And Pilot Performance: A Meta-Analysis, Kenneth A. Ward

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

As the aviation industry modernizes, new technology and interfaces must support growing aircraft complexity without increasing pilot workload. Natural language processing presents just such a simple and intuitive interface, yet the performance implications for use by pilots remain unknown. A meta-analysis was conducted to understand performance effects of using speech and voice interfaces in a series of pilot task analogs. The inclusion criteria selected studies that involved participants performing a demanding primary task, such as driving, while interacting with a vehicle system to enter numbers, dial radios, or enter a navigation destination. Compared to manual system interfaces, voice interfaces reduced …

Mindspace And Development Of Organizational Culture In Aviation Safety Management, Wilson Gilliam Jr

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Abstract

The organization’s role in establishing a culture fertile for safety development, risk management and mitigation is paramount. Barriers to the effectiveness of aviation safety systems may emerge when human biases interfere with the basic processes of safety management systems. Biases come in many forms and can serve as unconscious discriminatory behaviors against a person’s race, gender, sexual orientation, profession, skill level or other characteristic. Biases can also result from instinctive reactions and habitual patterns serving to protect one’s status, sense of belonging, desire to be viewed as normal and other characteristics. Minimizing biases within an organization is a key …

There Is A Bias In Aviation Against Research That Is Perceived To Be “Easy”, Stephen Rice, Scott R. Winter, Nicola M. O'Toole

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The purpose of conducting research is to make contributions to the body of knowledge. In managing research studies, researchers are often forced to make decisions on a series of tradeoffs due to scarce resources. They may have to select participants from certain accessible populations, limit the time required to conduct the study, or use a minimal number of researchers due to funding constraints. The purpose of this current study was to examine for a possible bias on the perceived value of scientific research based on the location in which the data was collected, the amount of time required to complete …

A Trust In Air Traffic Controllers (T-Atc) Scale, Bradley S. Baugh, Scott R. Winter

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Trust is a concept that cannot be easily measured. Further, trust is domain-specific. Trust is a foundational aspect of safe flight operations in the National Airspace System, and while there has been much attention to trust in teams and trust in automation, there appears to be a gap in knowledge of a pilot’s trust in air traffic controllers. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Trust in Air Traffic Controllers (T-ATC) scale, a summative scale to measure a pilot’s trust in air traffic controllers. This study followed a three-step methodology. In steps one and two, words …

Personality Types And Learning Styles Of Collegiate Aviation Students, Stephanie Fussell, Andrew R. Dattel, Kadie Mullins

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The personality types and learning styles of students have been studied across education populations, yet the research analyzing aviation students is lacking. A replication study assessed the distribution of personality types and learning styles of students enrolled in the aeronautical science baccalaureate degree program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Form M and the Kolb Learning Style Inventory (KLSI) were used to analyze the personality types and learning styles, respectively. When compared to the personality type distribution of the traditional college student sample using a selection ratio type table, a significant overrepresentation of the personality type …

Comparing The Distraction Of Cell Phone Conversations To In-Person Conversations On A Simulated Commercial Flight, Tianhua Li, Andrew R. Dattel

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The purpose of the study was to determine the difference in participants’ attention to announcements and compliance with safety behaviors when talking on a cell phone and when talking face-to-face in a simulated commercial flight. Currently, passengers are forbidden from making cell phone calls during flights in the United States due to electronic interference. However, any possible interference can be eliminated with the help of new technology. Although talking on the cell phone does not cause electronic interference, the distraction of a passenger caused by a cell phone may negatively impact safety. This study compared the extent of safety compliance …

Flight Simulator Fidelity, Training Transfer, And The Role Of Instructors In Optimizing Learning, Paul L. Myers Iii, Arnold W. Starr, Kadie Mullins

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Simulators have been integrated into flight training at various levels for decades, increasing in utility as they increased in fidelity. Today, practically all levels of qualification in passenger-carrying commercial airliners can be obtained entirely in the simulator, with the first experience in the aircraft on a revenue-producing flight. Flight training in the U.S. is a tightly controlled, highly regulated process overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It is also a very successful one; commercial aviation maintains a remarkable safety record. To that end, pilot training has been studied and analyzed extensively over the years, and as to the focus …

To Drive Or Fly: Will Driverless Cars Significantly Disrupt Commercial Airline Travel?, Stephen Rice, Scott R. Winter

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

In the past, commercial airlines and automobiles have shared a symbiotic relationship and rarely compete directly with each other except for very short flights. However, with driverless vehicles on the horizon, many of which will be made available to the average American consumer within a few years, the airline industry may find that they are now facing a competitor that is unlike anything they have seen in the past. In the current paper, we analyze some of the issues that the airline industry will encounter, and provide consumer survey data that shows that at least 10% of the flying public …

Design Of Revising Proximity Between Space And Time Cues On Flight Deck Displays To Support Nextgen – The First Phase, Chang-Geun Oh, Jennie J. Gallimore, Pamela S. Tsang

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate novel display formats to support RTA operations for near to midterm NextGen. Traditional cockpit displays separate space and time information in distant display sources in heterogeneous formats (graphics vs. text). This design composition may cause potential pilot errors when required time of arrival (RTA) obligations are imposed at every waypoint in NextGen. Pilots were randomly assigned to four different display conditions in a simulator – one traditional display with distant space and time cues, and three novel displays with close spatial proximity between the two cues. In the first phase …

Modeling Oculomotor Variability During Slow Cabin Decompression Using Infrared Technology, Jennifer E. Thropp, Paul W. Buza

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Slow cabin decompression is highly perilous due to its gradual and thus generally inconspicuous nature. In an applied approach to studying its effects upon oculomotor performance, experienced pilots performed a simulated flight task during slow decompression inside a high-altitude chamber while an infrared-based head-mounted eye-tracker measured oculomotor and pupillary changes at approximately 5% decrements in blood oxygen saturation. Saccade angle, saccade duration, saccadic velocity, microsaccade rate, fixation duration, and pupil diameter varied systematically in response to manipulation of blood oxygen saturation level, including recovery upon return to normoxia. Changes in these oculomotor variables can serve as biomarkers for early hypoxia …

Design Of Revising Proximity Between Space And Time Cues On Flight Deck Displays To Support Nextgen – The Second Phase, Chang-Geun Oh, Jennie J. Gallimore, Pamela S. Tsang

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The prior first phase of this study investigated the effectiveness of new design of flight deck display for required time of arrival operation of NextGen by collecting objective query response data during autopilot flights and subjective data about the perception between display condition and situation awareness level. To evaluate pilots’ mental workload during the operations when they interacted with novel flight deck display design, this second phase provided pilots with simulation flight tasks arriving at four successive waypoints on time in the same display conditions as the first phase and asked them to rate their mental workload ratings. The workload …

Attitudes Toward Controlled Rest In Position (Crip): A Gender Comparison Between Pilots And Non-Pilots, Stephen Rice, Scott R. Winter, Gajapriya Tamilselvan, Mattie N. Milner

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Prior studies demonstrate that controlled rest in position (CRIP) may help compensate for pilot fatigue. CRIP allows for one pilot to nap in their cockpit seat during the cruise phase of flight, provided that certain policies and procedures are followed by the other crew members during this period. The purpose of this research was to gather information from consumers and pilots on their willingness to fly if the pilots utilized CRIP. Our project employed a two-study design that manipulated both the length of the flight and the number of passengers onboard. Additionally, affect measures were collected through the use of …

A Conceptual Model For A Universal Severity Of Emergency Report (User): An Example In Aviation, Scott R. Winter, Stephen Rice, Mattie Milner, William B. Coyne, Martin Lauth, Clyde Rinkinen

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

In emergency situations, it is important that information be communicated quickly, concisely, and efficiently. Breakdowns can occur when the receiver of the emergency call does not fully understand the information that the person is sending. The purpose of this paper is to present a new model for enhancing communication between the sender and receiver in emergency situations. The Universal Severity of Emergency Report (USER) is a model designed to be used in emergency situations and convey more information about the current state of the person declaring the emergency than is currently offered by emergency communication channels. USER provides three key …

Effects Of System Reliability And Time Pressure On Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator Performance And Mental Workload, Dahai Liu, Rania Ghatas, Christina Frederick-Recascino, Dennis Vincenzi Ph.D.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are in the midst of aviation’s next generation. UAVs are being utilized at an increasing rate by military and security operations and are becoming widely popular in usage for activities such as search and rescue and weather research to homeland security and border patrol. In order for a safer integration of UAV’s within the National Airspace System (NAS), many research questions need to be addressed. This study examined the effects of system reliability and time pressure on UAV operator performance and mental workload. Twenty-four undergraduate and graduate students, male and female, from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University participated …