A Computer-Aided Aptitude Test for Predicting Flight Performance of Trainees

Abstract

Perceptual/psychomotor and cognitive tasks in a computer-aided aptitude test were studied to predict the success of a trainee in flight training. Pilots′ tasks were tentatively classified into five categories: tracking, reaction, memory, estimation, and visual scanning. To investigate the performance of a trainee in these categories, 16 single tasks and 10 dual tasks were examined. In the factor analyses three common factors (tracking, reaction, and memory) were meaningfully extracted. To select significant tasks for predicting flight performance, we performed stepwise regression and discriminate analyses. In the regression analyses, memory tasks were most significant in predicting the flight performance of a trainee. In the discriminate analyses, tracking tasks were most significant for distinguishing the passing and failing groups. The reaction tasks were of little significance in predicting the performance of flight trainees.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Alluisi, E. A. (1967). Methodology in the use of synthetic tasks to access complex performance. Human Factors, 9, 375–384.

Chambers, A. B. , and Nagel, D. C. (1985, November). Pilots of the future: Human or computer? Computer, pp. 74–87.

Damos, D. L. (1978). Residual attention as a predictor of pilot performance. Human Factors, 20, 435–440.

Fitts, P. M. , and Posner, M. I. (1967). Human performance. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Fowler, B. (1981). The aircraft landing test: An information-processing approach to pilot selection. Human Factors, 23, 129–137.

Gopher, D. (1982). A selective attention test as a predictor of success in flight training. Human Factors, 24, 173–183.

Haygood, R. C. , Loshowitz, B. , Parkinson, S. R. , and Eddowes, E. E. (1974). Visual and auditory information-processing aspects of the acquisition of flying skill (AFHRL-TR-74-79). Brooks Air Force Base, TX: Air Force Human Resources Laboratory.

Hunter, D. R. , and Tompson, N. A. (1978, July). Pilot selection system development (AFHRL-TR-78-33). Brooks Air Force Base, TX: Air Force Human Resources laboratory.

Imhoff, D. L. , and Levine, J. M. (1981, January). Perceptual-motor and cognitive performance task battery for pilot selection (AFHRL-TR-80-27). Brooks Air Force Base, TX: Air Force Human Resources Laboratory.

10.

Koonce, J. M. (1984). A brief history of aviation psychology. Human Factors, 26, 499–508.

11.

McCormick, E. J. (1976). Human factors in engineering and design. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill.

12.

McGrevy, D. F. , and Valentine, L. D. Jr. , (1974, January). Validation of two aircrew psychomotor tests (AFHRLTR-74-4). Brooks Air Force Base, TX: Air Force Human Resources Laboratory.

13.

North, R. A. , and Gopher, D. (1976). Measure of attention as predictors of flight performance. Human Factors, 18, 1–14.

14.

Passey, G. E. , and McLaurin, W. A. (1966, June). Perceptual-psychomotor tests in aircrew selection: Historical review and advanced concepts (PRL-TR-66-4). Lackland Air Force Base, TX: Personnel Research Laboratory.

15.

Siegel, A. I. , Federman, P. J. , and Welsand, E. H. (1980, December). Perceptual/psychomotor requirements basic to performance in 35 Air Force specialties (AFHRL-TR-80-26). Brooks Air Force Base, TX: Air Force Human Resources Laboratory.

16.

SPSS Inc. (1986). SPSSIPC + for the IBM PC/XT/AT. Chicago, IL: Author.

17.

Wierwille, W. W. , and Conner, S. Y. (1983). Evaluation of 20 workload measures using a psychomotor task in a moving-base aircraft simulator. Human Factors, 25, 1–16.