The Assessment of Workloads in Helicopters

Abstract

The value of inflight assessment of pilot workload has been recognised by aviation researchers and designers for over a decade (1) (2). Initially the subjective reporting of workload by experienced test pilots was based upon an application of the Handling Qualities Rating Scale of Cooper and Harper. This subjective reporting led to the development of rating scales for the assessment of workload (4). These subjective techniques were later augmented by the recording of physiological variables which could be interpreted as indices of workload. In the last decade, rather than restrict the assessment of workload in aviation to data obtained from test pilots, studies have been reported in which small samples of professional pilots have been used. A more recent development has been the employment of workload measures for exploring differences between pilots and to look for correlations between these measures and performance, and success in training. Workload estimation has additionally been used to assist in the ergonomic design systems including crew station geometry, and control and display location.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADP005640

Entities

People

  • Helen C. Muir
  • Robert Elwell

Organizations

  • Cranfield University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Applied Psychology
  • Army Aircraft
  • Attack Helicopters
  • Databases
  • Employment
  • Flight
  • Flight Crews
  • Heart Rate
  • Helicopters
  • Personnel Management
  • Pilots
  • Reconnaissance Aircraft
  • Standards
  • Training
  • Workload

Readers

  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.