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dc.contributor.authorMcMahon, Terry W.
dc.contributor.authorNewman, David G.
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-06T04:20:34Z
dc.date.available2018-12-06T04:20:34Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.identifier.issn2375-6322
dc.identifier.doi10.3357/AMHP.4425.2016
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/254965
dc.description.abstractINTRODUCTION: Flying a helicopter is a complex psychomotor skill. Fatigue is a serious threat to operational safety, particularly for sustained helicopter operations involving high levels of cognitive information processing and sustained time on task. As part of ongoing research into this issue, the object of this study was to develop a field-deployable helicopter-specific psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) for the purpose of daily performance monitoring of pilots. METHODS: The PVT consists of a laptop computer, a hand-operated joystick, and a set of rudder pedals. Screen-based compensatory tracking task software includes a tracking ball (operated by the joystick) which moves randomly in all directions, and a second tracking ball which moves horizontally (operated by the rudder pedals). The 5-min test requires the pilot to keep both tracking balls centered. RESULTS: This helicopter-specific PVT’s portability and integrated data acquisition and storage system enables daily field monitoring of the performance of individual helicopter pilots. The inclusion of a simultaneous foot-operated tracking task ensures divided attention for helicopter pilots as the movement of both tracking balls requires simultaneous inputs. DISCUSSION: This PVT is quick, economical, easy to use, and specific to the operational flying task. It can be used for performance monitoring purposes, and as a general research tool for investigating the psychomotor demands of helicopter operations. While reliability and validity testing is warranted, data acquired from this test could help further our understanding of the effect of various factors (such as fatigue) on helicopter pilot performance, with the potential of contributing to helicopter operational safety.
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherAerospace Medical Association
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom417
dc.relation.ispartofpageto422
dc.relation.ispartofissue4
dc.relation.ispartofjournalAerospace Medicine and Human Performance
dc.relation.ispartofvolume87
dc.subject.fieldofresearchHuman Movement and Sports Science not elsewhere classified
dc.subject.fieldofresearchHuman Movement and Sports Sciences
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode110699
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode1106
dc.titleDevelopment of a Field-Deployable Psychomotor Vigilance Test to Monitor Helicopter Pilot Performance
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
gro.hasfulltextNo Full Text
gro.griffith.authorNewman, David


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