Predictive validity of selected cognitive tests for the assessment of pilot flight performance in night vision goggles

Objective. This study aimed to extend previous work by linking standardized cognitive test outcomes with simulated flight performance under varying visual conditions. Specifically, the purpose was to determine whether visual information processing tests can predict pilot performance during night vision goggle (NVG)-aided flight operations. Background. Flying with helmet-mounted binocular NVGs imposes significant cognitive and perceptual demands. While psychological testing is used in pilot assessment, the extent to which such tests predict operational performance under NVG conditions remains unclear. Method. Twenty-one male military helicopter pilots (mean age = 32.2 years; mean flight time = 406.7 hours) completed three flight sessions in a high-fidelity simulator under daylight, night, and NVG-aided night conditions. Each session involved maintaining predefined flight parameters while performing a concurrent visual discrimination task. Prior to flight, participants completed three standardized cognitive tests (COG s8, SIGNAL s1, TAVTMB s1) assessing attention, detection speed, and perceptual accuracy. Results. Cognitive test performance did not significantly predict pilot performance during NVG-aided flight. However, test outcomes explained up to 75% of the variance in flight performance under unaided night conditions and helped differentiate individual differences across visual environments. Conclusion. Cognitive tests alone appear insufficient to predict pilot performance with NVGs. While useful for assessing general cognitive readiness, such measures should be part of a broader assessment framework that includes operational and visual-motor evaluation for NVG flight suitability.