Our researchers are often seeking participants for aeronautical research studies. Be a part of the future of aviation by participating in cutting-edge research. Please review the participant criteria and reach out to the appropriate lab/researcher if interested!
If you are a WISA Member recruiting participants for an aeronautical research study, please email us with your recruitment scripts to be added to this page.
Current Studies
The Role of Observational Environment and Visual Attention in Flight Instructor Assessment Reliability
We are looking for student pilots and flight instructors to participate in a research study.
The study will investigate the role of observational environment and visual attention in the reliability of flight instructor assessment.
A student pilot will complete a simulated training flight, in the ALSIM AL250 flight training device with a flight instructor evaluating the student pilot’s performance using an assessment tool developed by the research team. The simulated training flight will be recorded using cameras. The session will last approximately sixty (60) minutes.
Additionally, flight instructors will take part in in-person sessions on campus where they will evaluate the performance of student pilots from recordings of simulated training flights. Some recordings will be reviewed using a virtual reality headset. These sessions will also last approximately sixty (60) minutes.
To participate as a student pilot, you must have completed some flight training or be familiar with the exercises to be completed during the session and have not been awarded your Private Pilot Licence – Aeroplane (PPL-A).
To participate as a flight instructor, your pilot licence must be endorsed with a flight instructor rating. Pilots in the process of completing the flight instructor rating, have experience training in a simulator or that have a Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane (CPL – A) or an Airline Transport Pilot Licence – Aeroplan (ATPL – A) will be considered.
This research will be conducted in the Flight Simulator Lab at the University of Waterloo. This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board.
Student pilots interested in learning more about the study, please click here.
Certified flight instructors interested in learning more about the study, please click here.
If you are interested in participating, please complete the eligibility questionnaire or contact Brad Moncion at bmtmoncion@uwaterloo.ca with Video Recording Assessment Study in the subject line.
Colour Vision and Aviation Light Interpretation Across Laboratory, Simulator, and Real-World Settings
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ben Thompson and Dr. Elizabeth Irving
Student Investigator: Heather Hudecki
We are seeking adults (18-65 years) with a COLOUR VISION DEFICIENCY (CVD) to participate in a study examining how colour vision affects the ability to interpret aviation-related coloured lights, including Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights.
Participants will complete vision assessments and a series of laboratory, and flight simulator tasks. Participants will also participate in an approximately 60-minute real-world flight from the Region of Waterloo International Airport.
Participation in this study will consist of 4 study visits. Each study visit will be approximately 1.25 hours. Participants will receive $20 CAD cash per hour.
To participate, you must: (1) be between 18 and 65 years of age, (2) have normal visual acuity (with or without glasses or contact lenses), (3) have a COLOUR VISION DEFICIENCY, (4) not be undergoing treatment for any ocular condition that could affect visual acuity, including orthokeratology or myopia control, (5) not have a history of ocular conditions that affect colour or visual function (e.g., glaucoma, macular degeneration, or optic neuropathy), (6) not have any neurological conditions that may impact perception (e.g., epilepsy or recent traumatic brain injury), (7) not be taking medications that may impair vision or alertness, and (8) not have a history of motion sickness.
Additional eligibility criteria will be assessed during the first study visit, and meeting the criteria above does not guarantee eligibility.
No previous flight experience is required for participation.
Most study visits will take place at the School of Optometry and Vision Science and the Autonomous Vehicle Research and Intelligence Lab at the University of Waterloo. The flight will take place at the Region of Waterloo International Airport. This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board (ORE #46660)
If you are interested in participating or would like to learn more about the study, please contact Heather Hudecki at heather.hudecki@uwaterloo.ca with “Aviation Light Study” in the subject line.
Basic Flight Manoeuvres and Pilot Assessment
WISA researchers are conducting a study to collect pilot data and build a database to support the development of computational models of pilot performance.
Participants will fly a Cessna 172 aircraft (or similar model) with a flight instructor and perform a list of basic flight tasks including engine start, taxing, normal takeoff, steep turn, stall, circuit, and normal approach and landing. During the flight, researchers will collect data such as flight data recording, video recording, heart rate, skin conductivity, eye movement, and flight instructor assessment.
The study will take about one hour. The researchers will pay for the aircraft rental and instructor fee, and will also remunerate participants for their time with $15 CAD cash. Participation is voluntary and participants can withdraw from the study session without any consequences.
To be eligible for participation, you must be a licensed pilot (e.g., Private Pilot License, Commercial Pilot License) or a student pilot who has completed the training on the tested flight manoeuvres, engine start, taxiing, normal takeoff, steep turn, stall, circuit, and normal approach and landing. Any decisions to participate or not participate will not affect your status at your organization, and participation is completely voluntary.
Please visit https://calendly.com/homlab/wwfc to book a time slot, if you are interested.
If you have any questions, please contact the research team:
Robin Xu rongbing.xu@uwaterloo.ca (Research Associate)
This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through University of Waterloo research Ethics Board.
A Comparative Study Investigating the Effectiveness of Pilot Training Using PI-1000 Flight Training Device and Advanced Technologies
Principal Study Investigator: Dr. Michael Barnett-Cowan
We are looking for participants to take part in a research study investigating how advanced flight training technologies can be used to assess and evaluate pilot performance. This study will examine how different training tools influence flight task execution, including takeoff, climb, cruise, steep turns, and landing in the PI-1000 Flight Training Device. Some participants will also receive training on Microsoft Flight Simulator before testing. The study will involve either 1 or 2 sessions, each lasting approximately 2.5 hours. Participants will be compensated $10 per hour.
To participate, you must: (1) be between 18-64 years of age, (2) have normal or corrected-to-normal vision (contact lenses permitted; glasses not compatible with eye-tracking glasses), (3) not be diagnosed with any neurological disorder or middle ear condition, (4) not have a history of seizures or motion sickness.
No prior flight experience is required to participate. Participants will be grouped based on their experience level.
This research will be conducted in the Toby Jenkins Applied Health Research Building at the University of Waterloo. This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board (ORE#45625).
If you are interested in participating, please contact Narein Chenthivelnathan at nchenthi@uwaterloo.ca with “Flight Training Study” in the subject line.