Attention and distraction in pilots: A study of the relationship between flight experience, aircraft control, and distraction management among pilots

Scope and Method of Study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how pilots comprised of different total flight hours, different instrument flight hours, and different pilot qualification levels performed in maintaining aircraft control along with properly identifying traffic advisories, while flying in an airport traffic pattern scenario. The study focused on the performance of 35 pilots assigned to one of three Pilot Level Groups and one of three Instrument Time Groups. Each participant was evaluated based on their ability to successfully accomplish a primary task, while interrupted by distractions during an airport traffic pattern scenario. Performance was scored based on the pilots ability to maintain aircraft control and properly identify traffic advisories announced by air traffic control (ATC).;Findings and Conclusions. As set forth by the results, all pilot groups considered in this study experienced showed lapses in performance in maintaining aircraft control and properly identifying traffic advisories, while attending to a primary task. Experience in terms of total flight hours, instrument flight hours, and overall pilot qualifications should not be the only variables used in predicting pilot performance. Periodically and regardless of experience, pilots performed at levels much below their perceived capability. Pilots of all levels of experience are periodically prone to fall short of expectations for various reasons influencing their abilities inside the cockpit.