Effect of Pilot Expertise on Visual Scanning and Precision of Flight Maneuvers in Military Aviation
Abstract: This study explored how expertise affects visual scanning strategies and the precision of flight maneuvers in military aviation. A total of 38 French Air Force pilots of three different expertise levels performed horizontal and vertical maneuvers in a flight simulator. Flight performance analysis showed that novices had larger deviations in roll, heading, and speed compared to cadets and experts, underlining the role of expertise on the precision of flight maneuvers. Eye-tracking analysis revealed that expert pilots used more efficient gaze strategies, focusing on key parameters such as pitch and power. Our results suggest that eye-tracking could significantly enhance pilot training by providing insights into expertise-specific visual behaviors. Future work will explore the use of real-time eye-tracking data to deliver immediate feedback, guiding pilots’ visual focus during training.
Authors
- Quentin Vantrepotte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3838-9977)
- Emilien Dubois
- Cyril Camachon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1712-3480)
- Mickaël Causse
Institutions
- École Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (FR)
- Airbus (France) (FR)
- École de l'air et de l'espace (FR)
- Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées (FR)
- Institut Superieur de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) (FR)
- Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors
- Published
- 2025-05-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1027/2192-0923/a000287
- Primary Topic
- Human-Automation Interaction and Safety
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00