Development of a Simulation Experiment to Investigate In-Flight Startle using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps and Pupillometry

Loss of control in-flight (LOC-I), following loss of situational awareness and startle has been identified as a leading cause of aviation-based fatalities in recent decades. This has led to significant effort toward improving safety records, particularly in the fields of flight crew training and in-flight support technologies that aid better decision making and management of reactions to a startling occurrence. One way to achieve quality decision making in the cockpit is by providing adequate cueing and response activating mechanisms carefully designed to aid human information processing. These response performances, especially in the context of reactionary management of startle in flight, could be honed through simulator-based training. This paper discusses the setup background development of a startle causality dynamics using fuzzy cognitive mapping. This mapping provides an objective, strategy framework; for determining the required training for a management of the startle reflex in extenuating circumstances made significantly worse by human factors, such as erroneous knee jerk reactions.