Training and dashboard design: Impact on operator performance and mental workload for flight safety

Pilot training, the design of flight instrument panels, and mental workload are essential elements for ensuring aviation safety. Prior studies on icon learning have shown that chunking techniques can improve understanding of icon-related information. The research explores the effects of different learning methods and instrument panel designs on learning. The study compares two types of panel layouts: a chunking layout and a long-scanning path layout. Thirty participants were enlisted and divided into two groups: one using the chunking method and a control group. The chunking group was trained to recognize instruments through functional grouping, whereas the control group received training in a random sequence. Both objective and subjective evaluations were used to assess the participants’ workload. Findings indicated that the chunking group was more efficient in visual search during training. However, the two groups had no notable differences in learning rates or NASA-TLX scores. The results support using chunking as a training strategy and an optimized panel layout to improve performance significantly. By integrating the proven benefits of chunking-based training and optimized panel layouts, the aviation industry could significantly enhance pilot efficiency and reduce mental workload, improving flight safety and operational effectiveness.