How pilot role assignment influences decision-making under uncertainty: a behavioural and eye-tracking study
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1
École Normale Supérieure, LNC, France
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2
ISAE-SUPAERO, France
In high-risk environments where safety is the priority, the detection of system changes implies effective visual monitoring in order to make appropriate decisions. In aviation, this aspect is reflected by the division of pilots’ roles in dyadic crews – Pilot Flying and Pilot Monitoring. Little is known, however, about how team-member role assignment influences decision-making, especially when uncertainty is high. We addressed this issue in a full-flight simulator study where 62 airline pilots equipped with portable eye-trackers had to make a landing decision based on ambigious wind information. At a behavioural level, role assignment (Pilot Flying vs. Pilot Monitoring) and hierarchical rank (Captain vs. First Officer) impacted decision-making, with a higher go-around rate for Captains and earlier decisions for the Pilot Flying. Yet, eye tracking data demonstrated that the Pilot Monitoring fixated more upon decision-relevant information than the Pilot Flying (Fig. 1). Overall, decision-making could be predicted by fixations on decision-relevant information (Fig. 1). The results show the disposition of the Pilot Monitoring for visual information acquisition. We discuss future implications for the optimal combination of pilot role assignment and hierarchical rank in commercial aviation.
Keywords:
airline pilots,
role,
hierarchy,
Decision Making,
uncertainty,
Eye fixation
Conference:
2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 27 Jun - 29 Jun, 2018.
Presentation Type:
Oral Presentation
Topic:
Neuroergonomics
Citation:
Behrend
J and
Dehais
F
(2019). How pilot role assignment influences decision-making under uncertainty: a behavioural and eye-tracking study.
Conference Abstract:
2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2018.227.00007
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Received:
08 May 2018;
Published Online:
27 Sep 2019.
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Correspondence:
PhD. Julia Behrend, École Normale Supérieure, LNC, Paris, France, Behrend.ju@gmail.com