An Empirically Validated Task Analysis (EVTA) of Low Level Army Helicopter Operations

Abstract

A computer-based Empirically Validated Task Analysis (EVTA) of Canadian Forces light observation helicopter operations was conducted from video records of cockpit activity gathered during flight. The task analysis was performed in order to provide data for function analysis and workload prediction studies in support of the Canadian Forces Light Helicopter replacement project. Observable behaviors were categorized according to the type of activity involved and communications were analysed for content, agencies involved, and relevance to the crew's task. The results of this study indicate that data gathered from a controlled test environment can differ considerably from those obtained in operational settings and that miniature video cameras can be useful in obtaining information from environments which hitherto may have been inaccessible to all but operational personnel.

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