The Effects of back lit Aircraft Instrument Displays on Pilots Fatigue and Performance

摘要

One of the latest trends in the global aviation industry is to use "smart" technologies and interfaces as time saving and efficiency tools. Larger flight instrument displays have replaced conventional, analogue, instruments and can be combined with touch screen efficiency tools. Their ever-increasing size brings with them issues relating to light emissions and eye absorption. Especially emissions of certain colours of light at certain times affecting the Pilots circadian rhythms and cause eye fatigue - which is recognised to have an impact on Pilots performance. (Davies R., 2018)This research paper complements the current study and measurement of stress, fatigue and human factors with respect to increasing artificial light intensity experienced by Pilots on the Flight Deck. The authors present the results of several measurements taken using a flight simulator which meets the current regulations for Pilot training. However, the conditions have been adjusted to the realistic conditions of a Flight Deck. The research results provide Air Operators, Airlines and aeronautical designers with valuable data on human behaviour and the reactions to Flight Deck environmental changes.For the purpose of our research, we decided to use eye monitoring technology to record eye movements to determine the pilot’s performance. Eye monitoring provides data on the number of eye movements, fixations and the durations of these.