Differential effects of modafinil on performance of low-performing and high-performing individuals during total sleep deprivation.

Background: Individual responses to the effects of inadequate sleep have been well documented; some people are more vulnerable to the effects of sleep loss than others. Fatigue-vulnerable individuals generally require access to effective fatigue countermeasures; however, the question arises as to whether these fatigue-vulnerable individuals receive the same benefits shown in group efficacy data. The present study administered modafinil to individuals to determine its differential effects on performance of best and worst performers during sleep deprivation.

Flight-deck Surface Trajectory-Based Operations (STBO).

The results of three piloted simulations investigating flight-deck surface trajectory-based operations (STBO) are presented. Commercial transport pilots were given taxi clearances with time and speed components on the Primary Flight Display (PFD) and were required to taxi to the departing runway or intermediate intersections. Results show that when pilots were provided with speed-only taxi clearances, pilots either had poor required time of arrival (RTA) conformance with acceptable estimates of attentional distribution and safety, or had good RTA conformance with unacceptable attentional distribution and safety estimates.