Effects of Individual Differences in Propensity for Feedback in the Training of AB Initio Pilots

Abstract

One hundred and fifty persons answered a questionnaire measuring self-esteem, propensity for feedback, self-efficacy, and certain demographic information. Subsequently, the students completed the Basic Flight Instruction Tutoring System (BFITS), a series of fully-automated criterion-referenced lessons designed to teach a person how to fly an airplane. BFITS provided feedback whenever student performance on monitored variables approached the limits of acceptable performance. After BFITS the students entered the traditional flight training program. Flight time prior to the first solo flight, landings before first solo, and total time to the private pilot certificate were obtained. Individual needs for feedback were significant factors of performance in the BFITS training and its transfer to the aircraft. Because of the interaction between individual propensity for feedback and training performance an individually adaptive feedback methodology is proposed.