Mcnally, Karen L. | Search NASA

NASA NTRS1994

Fatigue in operational settings: Examples from the aviation environment

The need for 24-h operations creates nonstandard and altered work schedules that can lead to cumulative sleep loss and circadian disruption. These factors can lead to fatigue and sleepiness and affect performance and productivity on the job. The approach, research, and results of the NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Program are described to illustrate one attempt to address these issues in the aviation environment. The scientific and operational relevance of these factors is discussed, and provocative issues for future research are presented.

Rosekind, Mark R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Pilot response to avoidance regions depicted on alternate TCAS II resolution advisory displays

The objective of this study was to examine pilot reactions to three versions of the resolution advisory (RA) display of the TCAS II. Two modifications to the current system were designed to test the hypothesis that a different lighting pattern might be more effective than the 'red-only' version currently in use. Grouped into three sets, 28 RA displays of the same color pattern ('red-only', 'red-and-green', and 'green-only') were presented to 36 volunteer pilots on an IRIS terminal. The results indicated that the red-and-green display caused the least errors and hastened a quicker response than did the red-only display. Further, a subjective evaluation revealed that the pilots preferred the red-and-green display over the other two options. The red-only display caused the most errors, including seven unnecessary maneuvers. Pilots also responded slowest to this display and it was the least preferred.

Tuttell, Robert J.↗