Pilot age and expertise predict flight simulator performance: a 3-year longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Expert knowledge may compensate for age-related declines in basic cognitive and sensory-motor abilities in some skill domains. We investigated the influence of age and aviation expertise (indexed by Federal Aviation Administration pilot ratings) on longitudinal flight simulator performance.

Methods

Over a 3-year period, 118 general aviation pilots aged 40 to 69 years were tested annually, in which their flight performance was scored in terms of 1) executing air-traffic controller communications; 2) traffic avoidance; 3) scanning cockpit instruments; 4) executing an approach to landing; and 5) a flight summary score.

Results

More expert pilots had better flight summary scores at baseline and showed less decline over time. Secondary analyses revealed that exp

SUBMITTER: Taylor JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2907140 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature