Effects of Video Weather Training Products, Web-Based Weather Briefing, and Local versus Non-Local Pilots on GA Pilot Weather Knowledge and Flight Behavior

Abstract

This study explores 1) whether video weather training products significantly affect general aviation (GA) pilot weather knowledge and weather-related flight behavior, 2) use of modern Web-based weather preflight briefing products, and 3) whether local Oklahoma GA pilots differ appreciably from non-local pilots in weather knowledge or weather-related flight behavior. No highly significant, meaningful, simple effects were found for two 90-minute video weather training products on weather knowledge or subsequent flight safety on a simulated flight involving deteriorating weather. A data-collecting emulation of www.aviationweather.gov suggests that mere time spent on preflight briefing, pages viewed, and page view duration alone are not adequate predictors of either quality of preflight briefing nor subsequent flight safety. Finally, no important differences between local and non-local pilots were seen, implying that FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute flightdeck studies are generalizable to the national population of U.S. GA pilots.