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The assessment of pilot performance relies on systematic observation and assessment by a single trained rater or instructor/evaluator (I/E). Because of the importance of aviation safety, it is imperative that the rating and evaluation processes used by these I/Es yield reliable and valid data. This article describes a case study focused on improving the reliability and validity of crew assessment at a commercial carrier. The process for improving reliability involved the evaluation of current training methods, the construction and evaluation of 5 metrics for assessing interrater reliability, and a standardized process for using these metrics to train I/Es. A separate set of interventions was developed and implemented to improve structural validity. Data collected from 2 fleets in this airline during a 3-year period indicate aspects of reliability and validity that should be the focal points of continuing I/E training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the workforce increasingly ages, it will be critical to find ways of accommodating the decrements in abilities that come with age. Finding accommodations will be of particular concern for occupations such as airline pilot, in which small errors may result in fatal accidents. This study examined the perceived performance of older pilots, if information on ergonomic redesign interventions had a significant effect on attitudes toward ergonomic redesign interventions for older pilots, and how perceived performance and type of information interacted to affect attitudes toward ergonomic redesign interventions for older pilots. Participants in the study included 147 flight instructors and 24 student pilots. Results and implications for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]