I bring you a weekly bite-sized chunk of the science behind helicopter human factors and CRM in practice, simplifying the complex and distilling a helicopter related study into a summary of less than 500 words.
TITLE:
Pilot Monitoring: Summary of Research and Applied Training Tools
WHAT?
A research program by HeliOffshore investigating how offshore helicopter pilots monitor flight paths during unexpected events, and how attentional patterns contribute to risks such as loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) and controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). It also tested mitigation strategies and training tools to improve monitoring discipline.
WHEN?
Researched 2015 to 2022. Published 2022.
WHERE?
Research conducted with professional offshore helicopter crews in advanced simulators provided by major operators (Airbus, Babcock, Bristow, CHC, Cougar, Leonardo), across Europe and Canada.
WHY?
LOC-I and CFIT remain the leading causes of fatal offshore helicopter accidents. After incidents, crews are often reported as “distracted” or having “lost situational awareness,” but the underlying monitoring breakdowns were poorly understood. This study sought to reveal these hidden threats and test practical countermeasures.
HOW?
- Crews flew simulated missions in S-92 and AW189 helicopters where unexpected events (technical failures, emergencies) were introduced.
- Eye-tracking technology measured where pilots directed attention (aviate/navigate/ systems).
- Mitigation strategies were designed, briefed, practiced, and tested, including use of structured communication (“I/you have control”), extended scan assessment periods, and explicit attention reallocation.
FINDINGS:
After unexpected events, both pilots shifted attention away from flight path monitoring.
- There was an ‘aviate drop-off’ with an immediate loss of flight path monitoring lasting 5–20 seconds.
- There was a ‘navigate drop-off’ with sustained neglect of extended flight path monitoring (sometimes lasting minutes).
- Pilots relied on expectation rather than actual monitoring, leaving them vulnerable to unnoticed flight path deviations.
- “Parallel monitoring” often occurred where both pilots fixate on the same distraction, compounding flight risks.
- These patterns were consistent across pilots, operators, and aircraft types.
- Mitigation testing: Crews who were trained in a structured monitoring strategy showed improved aviate drop-off and navigation monitoring (especially by the PM).
The techniques improved situation awareness and led to fewer misperceptions (e.g., location/ heading) as well as longer, calmer assessment periods before checklist use (41s vs 28s).
SO WHAT?
- Unnoticed monitoring failures are a hidden but systemic threat in helicopter operations, strongly linked to LOC-I and CFIT.
- Offshore environments often involve low altitudes, terrain, weather, and confined airspace—conditions where navigation drop-off can quickly become fatal.
- Monitoring lapses are not visible in safety reports or crew self-perception, making them a “silent hazard.”
- Structured mitigation (verbal triggers, enforced assessment periods, monitoring redistribution) can significantly improve resilience.
- Training should simulate tactical threats (terrain, altitude restrictions, traffic) during emergencies to reinforce habits.
- CRM needs to highlight the dangers of PM distractions and parallel monitoring.
REFERENCE:
HeliOffshore. (2022). Pilot monitoring: Summary of research and applied training tools. Jarvis Bagshaw Ltd for HeliOffshore. https://www.helioffshore.org
competentaviators.com 