THE ROLE OF SIMPLE VISUAL-MOTOR COGNITIVE INDICATORS IN FLIGHT SAFETY

Abstract

Summary: Pilot psychophysiological performance is a critical determinant of flight safety in modern aviation, with 70-80% of aviation accidents attributed to human factors [6,7]. Assessment based solely on cardiovascular parameters and stress indices is limited in evaluating pilot stress and emotional strain and does not fully reflect real-time cognitive readiness. In this study, simple visual-motor reaction (SVMR) indicators of Azerbaijan Airlines pilots were evaluated using a dual-task simulator model. While performing primary flight tasks, pilots also completed additional visual-motor tasks, allowing assessment of the impact of cognitive load on psychophysiological performance.

The results showed that under dual-task conditions, cognitive indicators were highly sensitive: mean reaction time increased, root mean square deviation (RMSD) rose, and attention stability and concentration changed, predominantly remaining at moderate and low levels. The Whipple accuracy coefficient decreased, the number of errors increased, and mean reaction time values rose. The marked increase in reaction time and other cognitive changes observed in Table 1 indicate that even when autonomic stress remains near normal, changes in cognitive functions during the initial stage of the experiment may increase the likelihood of future compromises in flight safety. Statistical calculations presented in Table 2 confirm these results.

Keywords: Pilot, flight safety, dual-task simulator model, simple visual-motor reaction (SVMR), cognitive load, human factor