The Effect of Sustained Operations on the Psychomotor Performance of Helicopter Pilots

The modern helicopter is a technically sophisticated and complex. The helicopter's aeronautical capability permits vertical take-off and landings allowing the helicopter to conduct operations to unprepared landing areas. There is an increasing demand for helicopter deployments to be of a sustained nature in remote hostile environments. This thesis presents the results of research which indicated that pilots working sustained operations in a hostile environment experience a significant decrease in psychomotor performance. This may result in a differential effect with the feet deteriorating at a greater rate than the hands. This research may increase the knowledge of human interaction with helicopters during sustained flight operations.