Determinants of Pilots’ Performance: Investigating Technology Trust and Situation Awareness

Abstract

Simulation devices have been used in aviation training for decades, probably more than in other industries. Embarking on this study, we aim to understand the relationship between the information quality provided by the information system (simulator) to pilots with the effect on situation awareness and trust in technology. Also, we aim to understand how experienced pilots with total flight and simulator hours affect their situation awareness. Furthermore, the study introduces a novel theoretical model to explore how situation awareness and trust in technology jointly impact individual pilot performance. We used structured equation modeling within the data retrieved from a survey of 233 pilots. Our results show a large effect on individual pilot performance in a simulator between situation awareness and information quality. Also, the impact on trust in technology is supported with a large effect by information quality. There is a medium effect between information quality and situation awareness, with the experience shown by pilots having a small effect on situation awareness.