The research project began in the summer of 2005 and is aimed at determining the amount of sensory loss experienced by older adults within the active pilot population.
Miller and NIAR’s Research Scientist Dr. Christopher Hamblin say there may be misconceptions about older pilot’s sensory abilities because most of the existing data was obtained from the general population, not pilots specifically. They have found there is evidence that older pilots tend to be more active and in better health than their non-pilot counterparts. They believe findings regarding the affect of aging on sensory processes may not apply to the older pilot population.
The Sigma Xi grant was awarded for the purchase of equipment for data analysis and to provide a compensatory lottery for volunteers who participated in the study.
“We're lucky to have access to so many pilots of various backgrounds here in Wichita,” she said. “We got a lot of volunteers.”
Miller said more than 60 local pilots participated in the data collection portion of the study, which was completed in late December. She hopes to complete data analysis soon and publish her research by May.
“It’s still too early to make any concrete evaluations, but we believe our hypotheses are going to be supported," she said. "For example older pilots do not differ from younger pilots in near visual acuity or contrast sensitivity which is different than data collected from the general population.”
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, is an international, multidisciplinary research society. Its programs and activities promote the health of the scientific enterprise and honor scientific achievement. The society encourages support of original work across the spectrum of science and technology and promotes an appreciation within society for the role research has played in human progress. The Grants-in-Aid of Research Program promotes scientific excellence and achievement through hands-on learning and awards grants of up to $1,000 to students from all areas of the sciences and engineering.
NIAR’s Human Factors Laboratory provides applied research and engineering services to aviation-related clients. To learn more about NIAR’s Human Factors Laboratory, visit our website.
