MISSION CHALLENGE, MENTAL WORKLOAD AND PERFORMANCE IN MILITARY AVIATION

In modern military aircraft, complexity of information combined with t ime stress creates difficulties for the pilot under combat conditions. The first step to mitigate this problem is to measure mental workload . Several methods for doing so have been proposed. In this paper we de velop an analysis of mental workload as distinguished from its prior f light mission parameters (risk, challenge) and subsequent effects (mis sion performance). A model is developed on the basis of extensive miss ion data, both ground attack and fighter missions, which exhibits a du al coping process as a response to challenge and risk: emotion coping, leading to tension and decreased performance, and problem solving, le ading to increased mental energy and improved performance. The model i mplies a selection of optimal measures for constructing an index of me ntal workload which is demonstrated to yield a sensitive measure of th e pilot's changing mental status over the course of a period of traini ng.