Research Studies

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. 

Stay informed about upcoming research opportunities by subscribing to our Research Participant Mailing List.

Current Studies

Visual Illusions in Aviation

We are looking for people who: (1) have normal or corrected to normal vision (i.e., with glasses or contact lenses), (2) obtained a Transport Canada Medical Category 1 certificate, and (3) completed the requirements for your Private Pilot License.

This research will be conducted at the University of Waterloo. If you are interested in participating, please contact flightsim.lab@uwaterloo.ca with Visual Illusion in the subject line. This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board.

We are looking for people to participate in a research study that involves visual illusions during simulated flying via ALSIM AL250 Flight Simulator. This study will determine if flight simulators can produce reliable disorientation similar to that found in real flight scenarios. In addition, this study will evaluate whether susceptibility to these visual illusions depend on sex and gender differences, subjective experiences such as participation in sport and hobbies, flight experience, and standard tests of spatial ability. This study will be completed in the Flight Simulator Lab (EV1 242) within a single session lasting approximately 60 to 90 minutes.

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/rongbing-xu/homlab 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.