Visual Scanning Techniques and Mental Workload of Helicopter Pilots During Simulated Flight

INTRODUCTION: The visual scanning techniques used by helicopter pilots are a critical skill to accomplish safe and correct landing. According the human information processing theory, can be analyzed as function of fixation location, number, duration fixations. METHODS: This study assessed these in expert novice during an open sea flight simulation low-workload condition, consisting daylight good weather simulation, high-workload condition night-time, low visibility, adverse conditions. Taking part were 12 pilots. Mental workload was through psychological measures (NASA-TLX). performance eye movements recorded using eye-tracker four phases simulations. RESULTS: Overall, made more fixations out window (OTW; 22.54) than inside cockpit (ITC; 11.08), Fixations longer OTW (830.17 ms) ITC (647.97 they shorter low-demand (626.27 ms). Further, reported higher mental (NASA-TLX) high-demand compared regardless their expertise, lower DISCUSSION: Pilots perceived varied expertise rely on instrument support cruise phase external cues landing phase. implications for new system design discussed. Rainieri G, Fraboni F, Russo Tul M, Pingitore A, Tessari Pietrantoni L. Visual simulated . Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(1):1119.