Pilot Performance on Original and Modified Attitude Indicators with and without Acute Stress

Area of Science:

• Aviation Psychology
• Human Factors Engineering
• Aerospace Medicine

Background:

• Spatial disorientation and stress are critical risks to flight safety.
• The attitude indicator (AI) is essential for pilots to maintain spatial orientation.
• This study evaluates pilot performance with original and modified AIs under varying stress levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a modified AI on pilot performance.
• To compare pilot accuracy and error rates with original and modified AIs.
• To assess performance differences under acute stress versus nonstress conditions.

Main Methods:

• 52 pilots were divided into control (nonstress) and stress groups.
• The stress group underwent the Trier Social Stress Test.
• Participants completed flight attitude recovery tasks using original and modified AIs.

Main Results:

• The modified AI significantly improved accuracy in the control group (94.9% vs. 91.8%).
• Under stress, the modified AI enhanced accuracy for smaller pitch/bank angles and reduced roll reversal errors.
• The stress group showed higher heart rates and anxiety scores than the control group.

Conclusions:

• Adding peripheral visual cues to the AI enhances pilot performance.
• The modified AI improves accuracy and reduces specific errors under both stress and nonstress conditions.
• Findings inform the ergonomic design of cockpit instruments for improved flight safety.