Measures of Attention as Predictors of Flight Performance

Abstract

A new technique for measuring individual differences in basic attention capabilities and the validity of these differences in predicting success in flight training were investigated. The testing system included a digit-processing, reaction-time task and a one-dimensional compensatory tracking task. Comparisons were made between separate and concurrent performances of thesetasks, with both equal and shifting task priorities. Adaptive techniques were employed to obtain maximum performance levels for each subject in the single-task condition and to maintain dual-task difficulty within subjects. Consistent individual differences in basic attention capabilities were observed and several dimensions of attention capabilities are suggested. A preliminary validation study compared scores for flight instructors and student pilots. In addition, the student sample was dichotomized based on performance in training. There were reliable differences for both groups on dual-task performance efficiency.