Cognitive workload is an important variable with which to understand pilot performance, particularly when under pressure, but measuring it is notoriously difficult. A recent study by Brazilian test pilots and academics investigated new methods of measuring it during helicopter emergencies. In a world in which we are adding advanced cockpit systems at an ever increasing pace a better understanding of how and when pilots are impacted by cognitive capacity will allow us to design better for management and mitigation of workload breakdowns in critical flight scenarios.
Tag Archives: Workload Management
Small Talk, Big distraction: Taking a look at the sterile cockpit concept through the lens of helicopter operations
The concept of the ‘Sterile Cockpit’ as a defence against distraction is a well known one, even well below the cruising levels of the world’s airline operations. The chances are most helicopter pilots will be familiar with it as a company Standard Operating Procedure. Not so many will know that it is in fact aContinueContinue reading “Small Talk, Big distraction: Taking a look at the sterile cockpit concept through the lens of helicopter operations”
The checklist in the rotary wing cockpit: Understanding what, why, and how.
Do helicopter crews have as good an understanding of the proper use of checklists and checklist philosophy as their airline pilot brethren? Like everyone else, I have worked with checklists since I first set foot in the world of aviation. They are omni-present. But my in own experience – as far as I can recollectContinueContinue reading “The checklist in the rotary wing cockpit: Understanding what, why, and how.”
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