Absence of Pilot Monitoring Affects Scanning Behavior of Pilot Flying: Implications for the Development toward Single-Pilot Operations

Abstract

Background: Two pilots fly an aircraft in commercial aviation – the pilot flying (PF) and the pilot monitoring (PM). Due to technological progress, a crew reduction to single-pilot operations (SPO) might be feasible now. A transition to SPO requires a redesign of the flight deck to support the pilot adequately, particularly during critical phases such as approach and landing. In these phases, the scanning of flight parameters is an essential task. Objective: The objective of the present study was to find out if and how the scanning behavior of the PF would be affected by the absence of the PM. Implications for the design of potential SPO flight decks should be derived. Method: A study was conducted in a fixed-base A320 flight simulator. Participants had to fly various short approach and landing scenarios either with or without the support of a PM. A within-subject design was used and eye-tracking data were collected to assess the pilots’ scanning behavior. Results: The results showed that the PF’s scanning behavior was affected by the absence of the PM. Participants spent significantly more time scanning secondary instruments at the expense of primary instruments. Moreover, they transitioned more frequently between the cockpit instruments and the external view and dwells on the external view were shorter. Conclusion: The results suggest that information should be presented differently in commercial SPO. Head-up displays, augmented reality glasses, multisensory interfaces, and advanced automation are discussed as possible solutions to support effective scanning behavior during approach and landing in SPO.