Eye Movement Relationships to Excessive Performance Error in Aviation

Eight experienced pilots and eight non-rated individuals flew simulated instrument training circuits while eye movements were recorded with infrared oculometry. Each subject flew two, two hour simulations containing 32 data segments. A full circuit contained a nominal workload segment and either a high workload or low workload (monitoring) segment. Differences in performance were noted between high workload and nominal segments, and between morning and afternoon segments. Fixation duration and number of Long Fixations mirrored performance. Long Fixation frequency modelled 83% of dangerous performance deviations with a 31% false alarm rate.