Eye Movements of Pilot Flying in Simulated Flight: an Eye-Tracking Study

Flying is a complex and challenging human-machine interaction activity that requires a high level of technical proficiency from pilots. Currently, there is a growing interest of research and increased number of publications in this field, with eye-tracking technology being a commonly used tool. By understanding pilots' overall visual behavior during the flight operations, it is possible to consider improvements in cockpit design to reduce pilots' cognitive load and enhance flight safety and efficiency, thereby ensuring the overall safety of flights. However, current research has some limitations, including incomplete coverage of flight phases and areas of interest (AOIs), as well as inappropriate selection of eye metrics. In this study, the focus is placed on the PF (Pilot Flying) role. The principal objective of this research was to explore pilots' visual attention allocation during a comprehensive range of flight phases, covering as many cockpit AOIs as possible. It is part of a comprehensive research plan, and the first phase results of which are presented in this paper. The findings from this research can be considered for improving pilots' flight training, enhancing the design of human-computer interfaces in the cockpit, and providing insights for the redesign of aircraft cockpits for future single-pilot operations.