Analysis of The Most Critical Phase of the Flight Based on HRV Measurements of Pilots Workload

Constant changes and development of cockpit ergonomics can cause increased workload that can negatively affect pilot performance and jeopardize overall flight safety. This paper deals with comparing pilot workload during the flight on simulators with different cockpit ergonomics. The manuscript is focused on the flight phase during which the pilot showed the highest workload based on the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measurement. The measurements participated in group of pilots who gradually flew the Instrument Landing System (ILS) final approach for runway 06 at the Zilina airport on the two different flight simulators with analog instruments and glass cockpit. The analysis compared the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) and Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) index during flight. The results showed the highest pilots’ workload during landing. The conclusions of the research point to the possibilities of using HRV measurements in the process of pilot training, but also to the general monitoring of the workload of aviation personnel. It is the research of the human factor that represents a large space for increasing the safety in aviation, which proves the topicality of research.