Future ability requirements for human operators in aviation

Abstract

The present study addresses the optimal fit between technical innovations in aviation and aircraft operators. Because of the increase in computerization, an accurate and efficient monitoring of the automation poses a key challenge to future operators. As the German Aerospace Center's Department of Aviation and Space Psychology is responsible for personnel selection of pilots and air traffic controllers, our objective for the selection of future personnel is to distinguish good monitoring operators from bad operators. In order to identify good monitoring behavior we developed a simulation tool that represents tasks of pilots and controllers within a dynamic air traffic flow. Participants have either to monitor the automatic process or to control the dynamic traffic manually. Monitoring behavior is measured by recording eye movement parameters. The identification of accurate monitoring behavior enables us to adapt selection profiles to future ability requirements. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.