Helicopter Hoist Performance in Novice and Experienced Hoist Operators

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Helicopter hoist operators are highly skilled and critical crewmembers in search and rescue. However, hoist operator training programs are relatively underdeveloped in comparison to helicopter pilot training. It is critical that this simulator teaches the necessary skills for high-level performance given the dangers associated with helicopter hoist operation. As a result, we sought to validate and identify critical aspects of skilled hoisting.METHODS: Through expert consultation, we identified several measures of hoist operation, such as mission time, cable plumb, cable tension, cable hand position, and cable displacement. We compared hoist performance between experienced and novice hoist operators in a simulated hoisting mission with two levels of difficulty (with and without wind). The experienced group (eight men/one woman) was composed of nine active or former military hoist operators who were working in commercial search and rescue. The novice group was composed of seven subjects (two men/five women) from the general population and had no previous experience with hoisting operations or the simulator.RESULTS: We found that experienced hoist operators had faster mission time, similar cable plumb, lower tension, and less variable hand position. Further, experienced hoist operators pulled the cable inward in the wind while novice hoist operators pushed the cable away.DISCUSSION: These findings suggests that this simulator captures performance differences between skill levels and, as a result, is a first step supporting the use of this simulator for hoist operator training.King MT, Lenser S, Rogers D, Carnahan H. Helicopter hoist performance in novice and experienced hoist operators. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(6):496–500.