Cognitive aging and flight performances in general aviation pilots

Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. 2011 Sep;18(5):544-61. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2011.586018. Epub 2011 Aug 8.

Abstract

Unlike professional pilots who are limited by the FAA's age rule, no age limit is defined in general aviation. Our overall goal was to examine how age-related cognitive decline impacts piloting performance and weather-related decision-making. This study relied on three components: cognitive assessment (in particular executive functioning), pilot characteristics (age and flight experience), and flight performance. The results suggest that in comparison to chronological age, cognitive assessment is a better criterion to predict the flight performance, in particular because of the inter-individual variability of aging impact on cognitive abilities and the beneficial effect of flight experience.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Aging / psychology*
  • Aviation*
  • Cognition*
  • Decision Making
  • Executive Function*
  • France
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Reaction Time
  • Regression Analysis