Setting a baseline for cognitive fatigue in student pilots : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Aviation at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Date
2013
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Massey University
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Abstract
Despite fatigue being an important topic in many areas of aviation, little is known
about its occurrence and effects amongst student pilots. The purpose of this study is
to examine cognitive fatigue in the flight training environment with the goal of
setting a baseline for fatigue accumulation over the course of a one hour training
flight.
The study was divided into three sections. Firstly, information was gathered on the
numbers and distribution of student pilots across New Zealand, and this resulted in a
decision that research would proceed with students at a single large flight training
organisation. Next, a search was undertaken for pre-existing tools that could be
modified and refined to be made suitable for use in the flight training environment. A
questionnaire and reaction time test were then created and successfully validated in a
pilot study. Finally the main body of the study comprised using the two tools to test a
non-probability sample of 21 student pilots, split between a main group and a control
group. The data were then collated and analysed to determine the level of fatigue
which accumulated, assess correlations between variables, and evaluate the
significance of the results.
Results were overall satisfactory, with the questionnaire returning some of the most
useful and significant data. Significant levels of fatigue were detected amongst
participants, but it could not be exactly determined how this would affect
performance. Several significant correlations were discovered between different
variables, which served to both reinforce existing knowledge on the topic, and further
confirm the validity and reliability of the tools. While the study was somewhat
limited in its approach and scope, it is relatively ground-breaking, and creates the
potential for further research in this area.
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Keywords
Student pilots, Pilot fatigue, Pilot training, Flight training