Technology-based assessments in the cockpit: exploring the utility of eye-tracking

Innovative approaches for pilot training and assessment are urgently needed to meet aviation needs as the demand for pilots in Canada is projected to exceed training capacity by 2030. Technology such as eye tracking could be harnessed to add value to the currently used instruction methods to make pilot training more efficient in cost and time.

However, adoption and implementation of eye tracking in the cockpit hinges on researchers and industry stakeholder working together to develop scientifically grounded methods and apply these solutions in complex occupational settings. Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo (Associate Professor in Kinesiology and Health Sciences) and her team, recipients of the WISA RFI (FedDev) funding, held a meeting on May 10th to bring together researchers and industry stakeholders to promote networking and exchange of ideas on research directions that could lead to the development and adoption of eye tracking technology in aviation training and assessment.  

Undoubtedly, the team is embarking on a challenging and exciting journey and achieving the goals requires expertise across a wide range of disciplines including aviation, neuroscience, eye tracking, vision science, and human factors.  The meeting showcased the team’s expertise and initiated an important dialogue with the industry stakeholders including representatives from the Waterloo Wellington Flight School, Flair Airlines, the International Test Pilots School, the Presage Group, EXO Insights, as well as Adhawk Microsystems, a Waterloo start-up company that created a portable, high speed eye-tracking system that will be used by researchers in this project.  

This meeting was the first step towards developing a collaborative research approach that will facilitate knowledge mobilization and the translation of research findings into tools that could lead to implementation of individualized training and evidence-based assessment standards.