Research suggests situation awareness supports operator performance (e.g., Durso, Truitt, Hackworth, Crutchfield, & Manning, 1998), however no consensus definition exists (Rousseau, Tremblay, & Breton, 2004). One framework that incorporates most definitions is Endsley’s (1995a) hierarchical view. It includes perception of elements in the environment, comprehension, and projection of future status. Although the literature has slowly begun to accept a hierarchical view of situation awareness, evidence supporting this claim is limited and indirect. Several researchers have suggested that long-term working memory (LTWM), a theory of a memory process that explains how individuals can rapidly encode information in long-term memory and retrieve information from long-term memory, supports the development of situation awareness. However, a critical review of past research reveals that it cannot be concluded that long-term working memory was being employed, and therefore the role that LTWM plays in situation awareness is still uncertain. To address these issues, ten instrument-rated pilots provided verbal reports while watching various flight scenarios unfold. Periodically, the simulation froze and the screen went blank. While the screen was blank, pilots answered questions about the current flight situation either immediately or after completing a 30 second working-memory-intensive task that precluded working memory involvement in performance. Responses to the questions were used to assess pilot situation awareness. Results indicate that situation awareness is hierarchical in nature and that the familiar mechanisms of LTWM are evident in pilot verbal protocols and measures of situation awareness. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that characteristics associated with pilot training methodologies in conjunction with familiar mechanisms of LTWM predict measures of situation awareness. It was also revealed that pilots focus on position and control information more so than specific instrument values. Data are consistent with pilot utilization of a retrieval structure where the pilot’s mental representation of the situation is driven by strategy. They are also consistent with a comprehension-based model of dynamic environments (Durso, Rawson, & Girotto, 2007). Finally, these data suggest that an event-based training technique may facilitate developing and maintaining situation awareness.

The U.S. military continues to develop and expand its use of simulation-based aviation training. While traditional simulation-based training continues to be a proven training method, game-based simulation has become more sophisticated and may provide viable training options in some applications. The use of game-based simulation with traditional simulation-based training can potentially reduce costs, enhance return on investment, advance training objectives, and inform future training environment designs. Current fiscal limitations are driving the need for more efficient training methods, while operational requirements are dictating training protocols that produce optimum levels of readiness. The gap between fiscal constraints and desired training outcomes can be addressed by investigating whether lower-cost, game-based simulations may potentially augment higher-cost, traditional simulation-based training approaches for specific training tasks. Performing a valid investigation of the value of these simulation environments depends on a thorough evaluation of their training effectiveness. However, current approaches to Training Effectiveness Evaluation (TEE) do not adequately address the complete range of factors required to effectively investigate this gap. The present effort leverages research from human performance assessment, neurophenomenology, and instructional science to identify and integrate a set of empirically validated measures that contribute to training effectiveness. From this foundation, an interdisciplinary approach to performing TEEs for simulation training is introduced that addresses the shortcomings of current practices. This approach is validated in a use case involving the evaluation of U.S. Army Aviation collective training.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

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Compulsory insurance to cover the carrier's liability in air transportation has been debated for a number of years. Notwithstanding the fact that the various international conferences have not, as yet, arrived at a definite decision, the discussion upon the subject matter is by no means closed.

Article 50 of the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, also known as the Montreal Convention of 1999, places an obligation on the States Parties whereby their carriers are required to maintain adequate insurance coverage, but without providing any definition or guidance as to how the term "adequate" should be interpreted or understood. / This thesis, then, not only pinpoints the lack of accuracy of the terms contained in Article 50 but also suggests how the provision should be construed. / In order to do so, this project studies the origins of aviation insurance as well as its main characteristics and practice; presents an overview of the legal doctrine prompted as a consequence of the incorporation of Article 50; performs a thorough study of the evolution of Article 50; and concludes with a comparative study of other regional and domestic legal regimes requiring compulsory aviation insurance.

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