Toward an Operational Definition of Workload: A Workload Assessment of Aviation Maneuvers

Abstract

As there is no one agreed upon definition of workload, there is no one accepted way to measure the construct. However, workload is an important variable in nearly every aviation-related research protocol. The primary objective of the study was to explore a new measure of workload assessment in an effort to move towards an operational definition of workload. Using this new workload assessment and definition, the present study characterized aviators' retrospective assessments of the workload involved in base and mission tasks related to the UH-60 A/L aircraft. A secondary objective was to examine the role of experience in workload assessments. Eligible participants were UH-60 Black Hawk instructor pilots or pilots enrolled in the UH-60 instructor pilot course at Fort Rucker. The present study demonstrated the new workload assessment was sensitive to various tasks and various workload dimensions. The results of this study also have applications for return-to-duty assessments for H-60 model aviators.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA528341

Entities

People

  • Arthur Estrada
  • Catherine M. Webb
  • Lana S. Milam
  • Steven J. Gaydos

Organizations

  • United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Cognitive Workload
  • Data Analysis
  • Dead Reckoning
  • Department Of Defense
  • Flight
  • Fuel Systems
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Information Operations
  • Information Processing
  • Instructions
  • Instructors
  • Night Vision
  • Psychology
  • Students
  • Utility Aircraft

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Systems Analysis and Design