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Eye-Tracking Metrics as an Indicator of Workload in Commercial Single-Pilot Operations

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Human Mental Workload: Models and Applications (H-WORKLOAD 2019)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1107))

Abstract

There is a current trend in commercial aviation that points toward a possible transition from two-crew to single-pilot operations (SPO). The workload on the single pilot is expected to be a major issue for SPO. In order to find the best support solutions for the pilot in SPO, a thorough understanding of pilot workload is required. The present study aims at evaluating pilot workload by means of eye-tracking metrics. A flight simulator study was conducted with commercial pilots. Their task was to fly short approach and landing scenarios with or without the support of a second pilot. The results showed that fixation frequencies were higher during SPO, average dwell durations decreased, and participants transitioned more frequently between different areas of interest. These results suggest that particularly the temporal demand requires adequate support for a possible transition to SPO. The eye-tracking metrics support results obtained from subjective workload ratings.

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Acknowledgments

This research was conducted within the graduate program “Gendered configurations of humans and machines. Interdisciplinary analyses of technology” (KoMMa.G) funded by the federal state of Lower Saxony, Germany. The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Peter Hecker, Dr. Thomas Feuerle, Stefan Seydel, and Tatjana Kapol for their support throughout the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Flight Guidance, TU Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany

    Anja K. Faulhaber

  2. German Aerospace Center, Braunschweig, Germany

    Maik Friedrich

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  1. Anja K. Faulhaber
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  2. Maik Friedrich
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Correspondence to Anja K. Faulhaber .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Luca Longo

  2. Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Maria Chiara Leva

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Faulhaber, A.K., Friedrich, M. (2019). Eye-Tracking Metrics as an Indicator of Workload in Commercial Single-Pilot Operations. In: Longo, L., Leva, M. (eds) Human Mental Workload: Models and Applications. H-WORKLOAD 2019. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1107. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32423-0_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32423-0_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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