Aircraft Cockpit Accommodation: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Anthropometric measures are the cause of the majority of pilot rejection from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RACF). Though the fit mapping procedure is rigorous, it is not free from error. The purpose was to test a novel method intended to automate a more rigorous set of testing procedures to predict pilot suitability to a higher degree using reach trials and anthropometric measurements. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and participants performed several reaching tasks in a mockup of a cockpit. The Certus Optotrak was used to determine reach distances by calculating the distance between a virtual point located on the hand to IRED sensors affixed to the arm of the participant. Partial Least Squares was used to develop regression models with validation to not only predict reach distances of participants, but to predict reach performance. Reach performance calculated at 94% using contingency tables, showing validity of this method for future use.