Within the world of aviation, humans play a decisive role in execution of the different systems and in the application of procedures. The design of systems and procedures in the aeronautical world contributes effectively to flying with near-perfect safety conditions, although it is true that while this is the aim, 100n never be guaranteed.
Just as there are preventive tasks in the maintenance of structures, technologies, aircraft, etc., there are also procedures and technologies aimed at monitoring human factors, which in rare circumstances can be at the origin of a dangerous situation. In this way, one can to act preventatively.
The organism is a complex machine that is vulnerable to certain factors which can compromise both its state and its actions, and therefore it is permanently monitored.
In carrying out their duties, pilots, controllers and airport operators may be affected by an alteration of their aptitudes, so in some cases it may be important to monitor factors such as those explained below:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) Cardiovascular diseases or accidents are the leading cause of death in the world, accounting for 31% % of global deaths, that is, around 17.9 million people, according to the World Health Organization. For this reason, performing ECGs is common in periodic check-ups for personnel involved in aeronautics, although in some specific cases, monitoring of the circulatory system is also carried out to prevent related safety issues.
Early detection can prevent cardiovascular accidents and therefore associated safety risks.
One of the most novel and non-invasive devices is the ECG log patch. This system does not use wires or electrodes, and continuously monitors ECG activity. It is intended for use in monitoring for 14 days, using an adhesive patch that attaches to the individual's chest. In this way, this type of monitoring could be used periodically. Various developments of these systems exist, but their use is not yet widespread.
- Eye movement monitoring At first glance, it might seem like a trivial subject, but according to some studies, up to 80 % of the information needed for flight is acquired through the ocular system, making it vitally important that pilots and controllers have very good visual conditions. Some devices for this monitoring are:
- Eye-tracking device for PVD (Portable or Remote). This device is already on the market, it's an easy-to-install and very versatile item. Its main application in aviation is for air traffic control services.
- Eye-tracking glasses. Easy and comfortable to use, with an integrated camera allowing their use by pilots as a PVD (Primary Visual Display) is not required. Furthermore, they are not very intrusive to the user's vision.
- Bionic eye-tracking contact lenses. It is the most advanced and powerful technology being developed on the market, and there is a race in the business world to develop this technology. The smart contact lens market is expected to see a growth rate of 10.4%% by 2023. In addition to its own use in aviation, it can have multiple uses in the daily lives of the general public.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) Electroencephalography is an electrophysiological monitoring technique that records the electrical activity of the brain, which in turn is produced by neuronal activity. This allows for the early detection of fatigue, stress, and limiting neurological conditions for flight licensing purposes, such as epilepsy.
Various devices are currently in development that allow for non-invasive electroencephalogram monitoring to detect fatigue at an early stage. They have applications not only in aviation but also in general vehicle driving, potentially reducing the percentage of accidents due to this factor.
For example, the EEG monitoring headset. It safely measures brainwave signals and monitors people's attention levels while interacting with a variety of different applications. Its cost is quite low, so its implementation should not be an investment problem. The helmet has one electrode placed below the ear and another placed on the forehead. Furthermore, its weight is very low, making it, *a priori*, comfortable for an 8-hour workday.
- Elements relating to health and flight Carrying out work activities on a flying aircraft involves a series of unique factors of this profession that can affect health, such as changes in pressure and temperature, respiratory illnesses, different air quality, time zone changes, noise, etc.
Due to the great responsibility that rests upon pilots for the fact of transporting hundreds of people daily, their good health, which allows them to carry out their activity as airline pilots with all their psychophysical capacities in optimal conditions, is considered essential. Therefore, the health status of pilots has become a matter of safety. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has carried out campaigns and published a guide for pilots establishing recommendations for maintaining optimal health.
Current technologies for pilot health monitoring include small-form-factor computing elements, such as smartphones and tablets, with low-energy Bluetooth wireless connectivity. One example is the widespread smart bands that a large portion of the population uses for monitoring their physical activity.
- Behaviour and motivation As with other sectors where workers perform their duties away from home and often on shift rotas, pilots experience many physical, emotional, and environmental stressors. Recent research indicates that, given the demands of the job (i.e. antisocial working hours, disrupted sleep patterns/fatigue, etc.) and the nature of the work (i.e. sedentary, low physical activity, a mixture of high and low stress periods, isolation), pilots are at a potentially increased risk of developing unhealthy attitudes or behaviours and even psychological health problems.
At present, most instruments or tools that allow for the analysis of people's motivation levels and attitudes are based on questionnaires or individualised interviews, developed by experts in Psychology and human behaviour, through which they seek to identify patterns and certain responses that indicate the presence of specific behaviours or attitudes affecting people's emotional equilibrium.
However, studies and research are also being carried out to develop new technological tools that allow for the monitoring of worker behaviour in certain companies or sectors where this attitude is of particular importance, as is the case in aviation.
- Sleep and fatigue Fatigue and sleepiness affect both pilots and cabin crew as a consequence of non-restorative sleep, as poor scheduled sleep habits diminish coordination and brain performance, with the resulting final risk of air accidents.
Fatigue detection has also been the subject of research in the automotive sector, which has driven the emergence and development of numerous tools for detecting these symptoms through facial recognition.
There are currently numerous devices on the market that constantly monitor all of an individual's facial gestures, detecting possible signs of tiredness, sleepiness, or distraction through a complex facial recognition algorithm, even when wearing sunglasses or at night.
These are simple and effective devices, which perform an almost immediate detection of the onset of sleep symptoms. Among its functions, it has the option of warning with powerful sound alerts and LED flashes.
These devices are part of reactive technological solutions, meaning those that provide information on an individual's state of sleepiness or fatigue once they begin to appear.
- Communication and cooperation between individuals It is important to monitor the emotions of air traffic controllers, pilots, and crew, as they are continuously exposed to demanding situations, with great responsibility and both mental and physical strain.
It has been proven that recurrent neural networks (RNNs), which utilise sequential or time-series data and are primarily applied in voice recognition systems (such as the assistants on our smartphones), can be used to monitor the analysis of speech emotions. These networks use training data to learn and possess a “memory” that refines this analysis and recognition.
In this way, it is a monitoring tool with a great horizon for improvement and application, which involves pre-training but, through the analysis of pauses, sounds and tones, will allow to know the emotional state of any individual and take appropriate action if necessary.
There is no doubt that the position occupied by humans within the system makes them a key factor in the field of operational safety.
The organism is a complex machine that allows a multitude of actions and processes to be carried out, but which is vulnerable to certain factors that can compromise both its state and the integrity of its immediate surroundings.
However, with continuous learning based on experience, the development of new technologies, and the relentless pursuit of complete safety, the world of aviation is always at the forefront of safety, thus retaining the title of “Safest Mode of Transport in the World”.
