Toward an Operational Definition of Workload: A Workload Assessment of Aviation Maneuvers

Abstract : As there is no one agreed upon definition of workload, there is no one accepted way to measure the construct. However, workload is an important variable in nearly every aviation-related research protocol. The primary objective of the study was to explore a new measure of workload assessment in an effort to move towards an operational definition of workload. Using this new workload assessment and definition, the present study characterized aviators' retrospective assessments of the workload involved in base and mission tasks related to the UH-60 A/L aircraft. A secondary objective was to examine the role of experience in workload assessments. Eligible participants were UH-60 Black Hawk instructor pilots or pilots enrolled in the UH-60 instructor pilot course at Fort Rucker. The present study demonstrated the new workload assessment was sensitive to various tasks and various workload dimensions. The results of this study also have applications for return-to-duty assessments for H-60 model aviators.