Improved Pilot Training using Head and Eye Tracking System

Abstract

As there is no common and standardized training content on the assessment of (instrument) scanning performance and situation awareness for pilots, an effective training concept is necessary to support pilots in achieving and maintaining appropriate scanning skills and to develop personal mechanisms in handling situation awareness. The present paper introduces a head and eye tracking system for pilot trainings in a flight simulator. This system is able to collect eye tracking data and merges it with either a simple 2D screen or a more advanced 3D model of the flight simulator. Thus, this procedure allows an automatic evaluation which provides data of the complete flight training, e.g. fixations in predefined areas of interests, scanning paths or heat maps. The system is used in the research flight simulator of the Centre for Aviation. Upgrading the system will bring also advantages to various research fields.