Flight Emotions Unleashed: Navigating Training Phases and Difficulty Levels in Simulated Flying

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Flight Emotions Unleashed: Navigating Training Phases and Difficulty Levels in Simulated Flying
Language: English
Authors: Alejandra Ruiz-Segura (ORCID 0000-0003-4061-4931), Andrew Law (ORCID 0000-0002-7604-0506), Sion Jennings (ORCID 0009-0008-5490-9996), Alain Bourgon, Ethan Churchill, Susanne Lajoie (ORCID 0000-0003-2814-3962)
Source: Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. 2024 40(6):2926-2947.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Flight Training, Aviation Technology, Computer Simulation, Emotional Response, Biofeedback, Physiology, Attention, Accuracy, Difficulty Level, Adults
Geographic Terms: North America
DOI: 10.1111/jcal.13037
ISSN: 0266-4909
1365-2729
Abstract: Background: Flying accuracy is influenced by pilots' affective reactions to task demands. A better understanding of task-related emotions and flying performance is needed to enhance pilot training. Objective: Understand pilot trainees' performance and emotional dynamics (intensity, frequency and variability) based on training phase and difficulty level in a flight simulator. Methods: Twenty-three volunteers performed basic flight manoeuvres. Trials were divided into three phases: Introduction (trials 1-7), session A (trials 8-15) and session B (trials 16-22). Three task difficulty levels were implemented (low, medium and high). Flying performance was evaluated using root mean square error (RMSE) and expert ratings. Emotional intensity was inferred from physiological (electrodermal activity) and behavioural (facial expressions) emotional responses. Emotional variability was calculated to understand fluctuations among multiple emotions. Emotional responses were mapped into task-relevant emotions, like sadness with boredom, and fear with anxiety. Results and Conclusions: The most frequent facial expressions neutral, anger and surprise. Neutral and anger were interpreted as deep focus states. Surprise was likely a response to unexpected events. Flying performance and emotional dynamics varied across training phases and difficulty levels. During introduction, performance was less accurate, and emotions were less frequent. During session A, performance improved while participants experienced more physiological arousal and emotional variability. During session B, performance was the most accurate. In high-difficulty tasks, performance was the least accurate, participants expressed emotions with more frequency, more variability and higher physiological arousal. Future studies can use simulated flying tasks for trainees to familiarize with their emotional reactions to task demands expecting to improve training outcomes.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: EJ1448440
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Background: Flying accuracy is influenced by pilots' affective reactions to task demands. A better understanding of task-related emotions and flying performance is needed to enhance pilot training. Objective: Understand pilot trainees' performance and emotional dynamics (intensity, frequency and variability) based on training phase and difficulty level in a flight simulator. Methods: Twenty-three volunteers performed basic flight manoeuvres. Trials were divided into three phases: Introduction (trials 1-7), session A (trials 8-15) and session B (trials 16-22). Three task difficulty levels were implemented (low, medium and high). Flying performance was evaluated using root mean square error (RMSE) and expert ratings. Emotional intensity was inferred from physiological (electrodermal activity) and behavioural (facial expressions) emotional responses. Emotional variability was calculated to understand fluctuations among multiple emotions. Emotional responses were mapped into task-relevant emotions, like sadness with boredom, and fear with anxiety. Results and Conclusions: The most frequent facial expressions neutral, anger and surprise. Neutral and anger were interpreted as deep focus states. Surprise was likely a response to unexpected events. Flying performance and emotional dynamics varied across training phases and difficulty levels. During introduction, performance was less accurate, and emotions were less frequent. During session A, performance improved while participants experienced more physiological arousal and emotional variability. During session B, performance was the most accurate. In high-difficulty tasks, performance was the least accurate, participants expressed emotions with more frequency, more variability and higher physiological arousal. Future studies can use simulated flying tasks for trainees to familiarize with their emotional reactions to task demands expecting to improve training outcomes.
ISSN:0266-4909
1365-2729
DOI:10.1111/jcal.13037