Cue validity moderates the effects of haptic feedback in simulated instrument flight

This study examined if haptic cue validity moderates pilot situational awareness (SA) and performance in simulated instrument flight, using eye-tracking (ET) and electroencephalography (EEG) to assess attentional and cognitive mechanisms. Student pilots completed instrument flight patterns of ascending complexity. The haptic group received vibrotactile pulses when altitude deviated ±50 ft; the control group received a yoked number of cues at random intervals unrelated to flight parameters. Haptic cueing improved altitude adherence, while control participants demonstrated better heading adherence. ET revealed greater fixation frequency and dwell time on the altimeter in the haptic condition, consistent with cue-directed attentional prioritisation. EEG indicated higher workload and fatigue and lower engagement in the control condition. These findings are interpreted within a cue validity framework: targeted cues supported Level 1 SA by reducing perceptual uncertainty and freeing cognitive resources, whereas ambiguous cues imposed a sustained validity-evaluation demand that elevated cognitive load without commensurate performance benefit.