How role assignment impacts decision-making in high-risk environments: Evidence from eye-tracking in aviation. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Behrend, Julia; Dehais, Frédéric
• Is Part Of: Safety science. Volume 127(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: Aviation -- Monitoring -- Team role -- Decision-making -- Eye-tracking; Industrial accidents -- Periodicals; Accident Prevention -- Periodicals; Safety -- Periodicals; Travail -- Accidents -- Périodiques; 363.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2020.104738
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0925-7535

Abstract

Highlights: Evidence from a large number of airline pilots in the full-flight simulator. Disposition for the Pilot Monitoring for visual information acquisition. Eye-tracking as tool for decision-making prediction in aviation. Optimal combination of role assignment and rank in teams is discussed. Abstract: Adequate monitoring of automated systems is an essential aspect of procedure compliance, protective behaviour, and appropriate decisions in ultra-safe environments. In the air transport industry, the distribution of roles in a flight crew – Pilot Flying vs. Pilot Monitoring – reflects the importance of this task. Little is known about how pilot role assignment impacts monitoring behaviour and subsequent decision-making. We designed a field study where 62 airline pilots equipped with portable eye-trackers had to make a dynamic decision during approach in the airline's full-flight simulator. At a behavioural level, pilot role assignment (Pilot Flying vs. Pilot Monitoring) influenced decision time irrespective of rank (Captain vs. First Officer), with later decisions for the Pilot Monitoring. Eye-tracking results provided evidence that pilot role assignment rather than rank impacted fixations on choice-relevant information, with more fixations by the Pilot Monitoring. Overall, pilots' fixations on choice-relevant information could predict decision-making. We discuss implications for the optimal combination of role assignment and hierarchical rank.