Dj. Hewson et al., Aircraft control forces and EMG activity: Comparison of novice and experienced pilots during simulated take-off and landing, AVIAT SP EN, 70(8), 1999, pp. 745-751
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health","Medical Research General Topics
Background: Flying an aircraft requires a considerable degree of coordinati
on, particularly during activities such as takeoff and landing. No studies
have examined the magnitude and phasing of muscle activity required to fly
an aircraft. The aim of this study was to examine the muscle activation pat
terns and control forces of novice and experienced pilots during simulated
flight. Methods: Twelve experienced and nine novice pilots were tested on a
n Aermacchi flight simulator while performing a randomized set of take-off
and landing maneuvers. Four different runaway trim settings were used to in
crease the difficulty of the landings (elevator-up, elevator-down, aileron-
left, and aileron-right). Variables recorded included aircraft attitude, pi
lot applied forces, and electromyographic (EMG) activity. Discriminant func
tion analysis was used to distinguish between novice and experienced pilots
. Results: Across all landings, wrist flexors and wrist extensors were the
predominant muscles used, with EMG activity consistently around 20-30% maxi
mum voluntary contraction (MVC). In respect to differences in EMC activity
between novice and experienced pilots, novices had significantly more activ
ity in wrist extensors during all landings. In contrast, experienced pilots
had consistently more vastus lateralis activity for all landings than did
novice pilots. Over all landings and take-off, 89.5% of pilots were correct
ly classified as novice or experienced. When the maneuvers were analyzed in
dividually, normal, elevator-down, and aileron-left landings were the most
accurate maneuvers for pilot prediction. EMG and force variables were more
important than aircraft attitude in discriminating between novice and exper
ienced pilots (83%, 79%, and 65%, respectively). Conclusion: The consistenc
y of the finding that EMG activity and control forces are accurate discrimi
nators of pilot experience is indicative of underlying differences in neuro
muscular control strategies between novice and experienced pilots.