Heart Rate Variability and Performance of Commercial Airline Pilots during Flight Simulations

Area of Science:

• Aviation Psychology
• Human Factors in Aviation
• Autonomic Nervous System Physiology

Background:

• Pilot performance is susceptible to various flight stressors.
• Heart rate variability (HRV) serves as a key indicator of autonomic nervous system activity, reflecting sympathetic stress responses.
• Understanding HRV in pilots is vital for assessing in-flight stress and its performance implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and pilot performance under different carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations.
• To evaluate the impact of physiological stress indicators on the performance of complex flight maneuvers.
• To determine the influence of CO₂ exposure and HRV on pilot performance in a simulated flight environment.

Main Methods:

• Thirty commercial airline pilots participated in flight simulations using an A320 simulator.
• Pilots flew three segments with varying CO₂ concentrations while performing maneuvers of differing difficulty.
• Heart rate variability (HRV) metrics (SDNN, RMSSD, LF/HF ratio) were measured using a Movisens EcgMove3 sensor before and during simulations.

Main Results:

• Decreased HRV was associated with aging, obesity, and the execution of difficult maneuvers.
• Both CO₂ exposure and HRV independently affected pilot performance, with no significant interaction.
• Higher SDNN and RMSSD, and lower LF/HF ratio (indicating lower stress) correlated with improved maneuver performance and higher success rates.

Conclusions:

• Pilot stress, as indicated by HRV, significantly impacts performance during flight simulations.
• Lower physiological stress (higher SDNN, RMSSD; lower LF/HF) is associated with better pilot performance and increased likelihood of successful maneuver completion.
• HRV monitoring offers a potential tool for assessing pilot stress and optimizing aviation safety.