Evaluation of Workload in Military Pilots During Formation Flight Instruction: Impacts of Function and Experience

INTRODUCTION: Aircraft piloting is a complex task that requires high cognitive load and emotional pressure, increasing the risk of human error. The mental workload (MWL) experienced by pilots is influenced by the dynamic environments in which they operate, their skills, training, and individual perceptions. Mental workload varies across individuals because of differences in personality, cognition, and situational awareness, making its evaluation a vital aspect of flight safety. This study evaluated the MWL of Brazilian military pilots during graduate flight instruction and identified the factors that contribute the most to this workload. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study of 22 pilots of the T-27 "Tucano" aircraft were divided into 2 groups based on their assigned role. Group 1 (G1) was composed of 11 instructors responsible for providing instruction to a cadet, whereas Group 2 (G2) consisted of 11 instructor pilots tasked with piloting the lead aircraft. The MWL was assessed using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire and heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. The data were collected during training flights in a real operational environment. RESULTS: We found an average MWL of 69.82 points, with G1s reporting 74.2 and G2s reporting 65.5, which were higher than the averages reported in previous studies. The dimensions that contributed most to MWL were Performance, Mental Demand, and Effort. Heart rate variability analysis showed an increased heart rate and decreased RR intervals, indicating greater flight-induced sympathetic activity, with significant differences between the groups, suggesting that G2s experienced greater mental demands during flight. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that MWL is high during formation training for both groups of pilots. The NASA-TLX and HRV tools were effective in analyzing MWL, and the combination of these metrics provided a comprehensive view of psychophysio-logical stress.