Relationships Between Pilot Gaze Patterns and Control Lapses in Challenging Instrument Approach Flight

Objective This study investigates the link between pilot gaze patterns and control deviations during simulated instrument flight approaches, aiming to understand how attentional focus impacts flight safety.Background Building on previous research that underscores the importance of situational awareness in aviation, this work delves into the specific aspects of gaze behavior as indicators of cognitive workload and attentional distribution. Unlike prior studies that broadly assessed attentional markers, this research utilizes advanced iris tracking technology to pinpoint how gaze metrics correlate with flight performance.Method Employing a quantitative research design, the study analyzed over 45 simulated instrument flight approaches conducted by 15 pilots. Detailed metrics of gaze behavior, including fixation duration, saccade rate, scanning patterns, and gaze variability, were captured using iris tracking technology. A novel metric, exceedance autocorrelation, was introduced to assess aircraft control deviations and pilot performance.Results Statistical analyses uncovered significant correlations: fixation duration exhibited a strong positive correlation with control quality (r = 0.684), and saccade rate correlated even more strongly (r = 0.827). Conversely, scan pattern predictability and gaze variability correlated negatively (r = −0.55) and positively (r = 0.546), respectively, highlighting their relevance under high cognitive workload conditions.Conclusion The results confirms that specific gaze behaviors are critical indicators of pilot performance in challenging flight scenarios. These insights advance our understanding of pilot attentional mechanisms, offering valuable implications for enhancing aviation safety through improved training programs and cockpit technology design.