Critical evaluation of the objective methods of pilot task load assessment in small general aviation organizations

The highest rate of fatal accidents in aviation is attributed to the general aviation segment. Due to their specific nature, general aviation organizations lack implemented methods for measuring pilots' task load. Consequently, assessing the operational risk associated with a flight is hardly ever done. This results from the limited reporting of events by flight crews. Implementing task-load assessment based on objective methods could be beneficial from the standpoint of managing the risks associated with aviation operations. The research aimed to verify the usefulness of objective methods of assessing pilot workload from the perspective of small general aviation organizations. The study concentrates on the critical comparison of three objective methods: heart rate (HR), electroencephalography (EEG), and galvanic skin response (GSR). An expert evaluation of selected methods and flight tests of these methods that were deemed suitable in the expert evaluation were performed. Heart rate measurement using a chest strap received the highest ratings from experts and the most positive feedback from pilots during testing. It also provided the most accurate measurements. The study further emphasized the critical role of pilot task load in shaping overall flight safety in the specific conditions of general aviation organizations.