Psychology Commons^™

Barriers To Mental Health Seeking Among Army Aviation Personnel: A Preliminary Report, Aric J. Raus

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

This research explores barriers to mental health seeking, self-reported symptoms, and perspectives on self-help mental-wellness options among U.S. Army Aviation Personnel. Safe aviation operations require constant focus and mental clarity. These requirements expand when considering the implications and added stress of military operations, especially in combat scenarios. Yet, recent studies demonstrate that aviation personnel avoid seeking healthcare due to fears of losing their medical certification. This report provides preliminary results from the first known study on barriers to mental health seeking among U.S. Army aviation personnel. Utilizing an anonymous survey instrument, facilitated primarily through Social Media recruiting of current and …

Up In The Air: A Human Factors Approach To Enhancing Evtol Passenger Experience, Brandon D. Dreslin, Michael C. Falanga, Juksana Mai Ngam, Alex Chaparro, Barbara S. Chaparro

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Although electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles are an emerging mode of transportation, current research indicates that the general public may be unwilling to ride in them due to unfamiliarity and uncertainty about their trust in the technology. This research aimed to better understand potential passenger concerns as well as the factors related to eVTOL design and ride journey that contribute to people’s willingness to ride in them. Understanding these human factors considerations are crucial for addressing issues surrounding the end-to-end passenger experience. Passenger safety, comfort, and acceptance were identified as important areas that influence users’ experience. These areas …

Airline Pilot Perceptions Of Stress And Self-Reported Fatigue: A Cross-Sectional Study, Michelle P. Hight, Stephanie G. Fussell, Eline Kok, Debbie S. Carstens Phd,

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

In the air transportation sector, fatigue is a known problem influencing safety. Over the past two decades, fatigue mitigation has gained increased regulatory emphasis. The psychosocial construct of perceived stress, however, has been less studied and emphasized, though decades of research demonstrates stress’s impact on psychosocial and physiological wellbeing and safety performance. This observational, cross-sectional study measured airline pilots’ perceived stress levels alongside selected fatigue factors. Data was gathered from a sample of 144 airline pilots and analyzed using non-parametric statistics to explore the relationship between pilots’ perceptions of their own stress levels over the previous month with their answers …

Using Natural Language Processing To Identify Mental Health Indicators In Aviation Voluntary Safety Reports, Michael Sawyer, Katherine Berry, Amelia Kinsella, R Jordan Hinson, Edward Bynum

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Voluntary Safety Reporting Programs (VSRPs) are a critical tool in the aviation industry for monitoring safety issues observed by the frontline workforce. While VSRPs primarily focus on operational safety, report narratives often describe factors such as fatigue, workload, culture, staffing, and health, directly or indirectly impacting mental health. These reports can provide individual and organizational insights into aviation personnel's physical and psychological well-being. This poster introduces the AVIation Analytic Neural network for Safety events (AVIAN-S) model as a potential tool to extract and monitor these insights. AVIAN-S is a novel machine-learning model that leverages natural language processing (NLP) to analyze …

Student Research Opportunities In Aviation Human Factors, Jamie Barrett, Brett Torrence

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

When most people think of jobs in aviation or at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), they think of pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, Maintainers, etc., those directly involved in the movement of aircraft, passengers, and cargo. However, to safely move over 26K passengers (avg) daily requires many diverse occupations. Included within the complexity of aviation operations are individuals with backgrounds in Psychology, Human Factors, and Instructional Design. It is important to raise awareness of the diversity of aviation jobs and pathways to achieving those opportunities, to attract a diverse next generation workforce. The Human Factors Research Division at the Civil Aerospace …

Targeting The Workforce Of Tomorrow Today, Chanda S. Sanders

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Strategically designed and implemented Aviation STEM (AvSTEM) education programs are essential to the future of aviation. As the retirement of a large portion of the aviation workforce rapidly approaches, the industry will be left with a deficit of seasoned employees with comparable knowledge to meet the ever changing needs of the national airspace system. AvSTEM programs designed for school-aged young people offer an opportunity for educators to target, educate, and plant seeds to recruit an adequate pipeline of diverse talent for tomorrow. A well-developed and strategically executed AvSTEM program also has the potential to impact Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) …

An Aviator Centered Approach To Mental Health: A Preliminary Look At Stressors, Barriers To Care, And Untreated Aviator Mental Health, Aric J. Raus

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

The purposeful crash of Germanwings 9525 in March 2015 provided a wake-up call to the aviation community on the ramifications of untreated mental health in commercial aviation. While the airline industry and governmental regulating bodies reacted quickly with peer-support networks and attempts to de-stigmatize seeking assistance, few actions or studies have focused on mental health from an Aviators perspective. This presentation explores the possible stressors impacting aviator mental health among three distinct aviator professional categories: Commercial Aviators, Military Aviators, and Aviators in Civilian Training Programs. After providing an overview of stressors, the discussion transitions into what is known about the …

Application Of A Skill Taxonomy In Aviation, Marisa D. Aguiar M.S., Haydee M. Cuevas Ph.D., Christopher Piccone M.S.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

The objective of this project was to develop a preliminary taxonomy for defining the construct ‘skill,’ drawing from the various definitions described in the extant literature. Three separate cognitive task analyses (CTA) were conducted utilizing interviews and observations with subject matter experts within the context of (1) a virtual reality part task trainer for airborne refueling, (2) skills required by pilots in commercial aviation, and (3) aviation maintenance skills for unmanned aircraft systems. The findings from the CTAs were applied to refine the preliminary taxonomy.

Dynamic And Adaptive Training For Enhanced Aviation Knowledge Transfer And Retention, Jason P. Kring Ph.D., Michael W. Sawyer, Meredith Carroll, Katherine A. Berry

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

The world of aviation is rapidly evolving through increased automation on the flight deck, new air traffic control tools and procedures, and expanded applications of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). These enhancements may increase training requirements on operational personnel and potentially introduce the opportunity for the degradation of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are not routinely applied. The resources required for simulator-based training results in using computer-based training (CBT) for many infrequently used KSAs. Field studies and academic literature consistently show that users find this training boring, easily forgettable, and are perceived as “check the box” training. Furthermore, most CBT …

Redefining Resiliency Using Principles Of Social Cognitive Theories To Address The Gap In Training And Assessing Resiliency For Air Carrier Operations, Jessica K. Cruit Ph.D., Patricia Bockelman Ph.D., Peter Hancock D.Sc, Ph.D.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Air carrier flight operations continue to be highly proceduralized events, which have contributed to the overall safety and performance efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS). However, existing and envisionable procedures do not, and may never completely cover all operational situations. At times, there is not a procedure for a situation or adequate time to complete a known procedure. More specifically, the current use of procedures does not adequately address unexpected events. In the instances when procedures are non-existent, the flight crew needs to have the ability to demonstrate resilience or to adapt and respond appropriately to the changing environment …

Examining Pilot Response To Cybersecurity Events On The Flight Deck, Meredith Carroll Ph.D., Summer Rebensky, Paige Sanchez

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Cybersecurity is a growing concern in the aviation industry. In general, cybersecurity research has typically focused on providing technical solutions such as hardening networks and improving computer systems, with little focus on the human operator. Human operators, such as pilots, are often the last line of defense; however, it is currently unclear whether pilots can recognize cybersecurity vulnerabilities, detect when a system is being compromised, and respond appropriately to a cybersecurity event. A review of literature revealed three key stages in cybersecurity response decision process (susceptibility, detection, and response) that are influenced by eight separate factors (perceived susceptibility, perceived safeguard …

Pilot Selection Research Gaps: What We Do And Don't Know About "The Right Stuff", Tomas C. Scott, Meredith Carroll Ph.D.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Ever since the commencement of high-powered flight, pilot selection has been a crucial process within military, general, and commercial aviation. Through effective pilot selection, individuals with the necessary aptitudes, or "the right stuff" to get through a training program and successfully perform the job, can be chosen. There is a range of different aptitudes that have been shown through research to correlate with effective pilot performance. However, there is currently not a comprehensive understanding of the aptitudes, including both cognitive abilities and psychological attributes, necessary not only for effective pilot performance but also for a successful career as an aviator. …

Examination Of The Impact Of Various Training Approaches On Different Uas Operator Populations, Summer Rebensky M.S., Meredith Carroll Ph.D., Maria Chaparro M.S.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

In recent years, the UAS industry has extended beyond military and recreational use and is now positioned to become a major portion of the aviation industry. As we move toward UAS integration into the national airspace system, UAS operators need effective training to ensure safe operation. Training UAS operators in an engaging way is important to ensure the best performance and transfer of training. Training methods that elicit high levels of learner engagement have been shown to improve knowledge gains, performance, and therefore such training techniques provide an opportunity for improving UAS training effectiveness and transfer. The growth of the …

Integrating The 1st Person View And The 3rd Person View Using A Connected Vr-Mr System For Pilot Training, Chang-Geun Oh Ph.D., Myunghoon Oh Ph.D.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Many virtual reality (VR)-based flight simulation programs provide pilots the enhanced reality from the 1^st person-view to make themselves immersed in the cockpit. Using the VR simulations, pilots can take flight training in many challenging situations that are hard to create in real environments due to its natural entropy and safety concerns such as severe crosswind or engine fire. Mixed reality (MR) technology provides three-dimensional graphics so that users can effectively see all 360 degree-vertical and horizontal aspects of an object while they freely move around to see the graphics maintaining the consciousness of real space. Flight instructors may …

Evaluating Scenarios That Can Startle And Surprise Pilots, Rahim D. Agha, Andrew R. Dattel Ph.D., Jennifer E. Thropp Ph.D.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Startle and surprise in the cockpit have contributed to multiple aviation accidents. The aviation safety boards of France, the United States, and Holland have concluded that startle and surprise pose a serious threat to pilots. This study identified the effects startle and surprise had on multi-engine rated pilots. Surprise is defined here as something unexpected (e.g., engine failure). Startle is the associated exaggerated effect of an unexpected condition (e.g., loud bang). At this point, data has been collected on 15 pilots. Pilots were tested in an aviation training device configured to a Cessna 172 and a Beechcraft Baron 58. Each …

Recommended Training Practices To Prepare Pilots To Cope With Information Conflicts, Meredith Carroll Ph.D., Paige Sanchez, Donna Wilt

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

As the next generation of flight deck information systems are being utilized on the flight deck, pilots now have greater amounts of information at their fingertips. Information that was typically available only from certified information sources in aircraft panels, is now being provided by a range of sources, both within the panel and on Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs). Although redundant sources of information provide pilots a means by which to crosscheck and hone in on ground truth, they also introduce the potential for pilots encountering conflicting information. As conflicting information can have negative effects on decision making, there is a …

Implementation Of Team-Based Learning In Aviation Education, Austin T. Walden Ph.D.

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Recent research in the field of Aviation Education and Educational Psychology has shown that students are in need of greater interaction and social skills. Additionally, although Part 141 flight training programs and ground school classes offer many opportunities for collaboration and for dynamic teamwork, often those opportunities are missed as flight training is still largely a "one-on-one" effort between the student and the certificated flight instructor.

Within the last decade, Team-Based Learning has come to prominence in a variety of disciplines across the academic landscape. Team Based-learning incorporates both individual test taking, and group based test taking into one academic …