Aircrew Training Devices Research Articles

Simulator Sickness Provoked by a Human Centrifuge

Simulator sickness is now a well-recognized entity. It is recognized as a form of motion sickness, having a higher incidence in the more sophisticated simulators. Human centrifuges (dynamic simulators) are the newest innovation in aircrew training devices. Simulator sickness has never been reported in human centrifuges. We are reporting on a case of delayed simulator sickness in a pilot-subject after a centrifuge experience. A review of the "psycho-physiological" problems routinely experienced by subjects on human centrifuges indicates such problems are due to simulator sickness, although they are not reported as such. In this paper, we give a brief overview of simulator sickness and briefly discuss simulator sickness, as related to the human centrifuge experience.

Utility and Utilization of Aircrew Training Device Advanced Instructional Features

The utility and utilization of the Advanced Instructional Features (AIFs) capabilities of USAF Aircrew Training Devices (ATDs) was explored by means of a survey of 534 Simulator Instructors from Air Training Command, Military Airlift Command, Strategic Air Command, and Tactical Air Command training sites. The primary purpose of the survey was to provide a database that could be used in defining the requirements for ATD procurements and in developing future ATD training programs. In general, the features that were rated highest in utility and utilization were those used for training management, variation of task difficulty/fidelity, and monitoring student performance. The level of AIF use was affected somewhat by hardware and/or software deficiencies; however, the presumed training value of an AIF was the most important determiner of its use.

Future Directions for Cost Effective Air Force Aircrew Training: Managed Technology and the Training System

Although early simulation efforts were slow to be accepted and exploited, their value in reducing flight training risk and cost has resulted in the development and use of modern technology to the point where today many airline training programs require zero hours of inflight training time. This means that the first time a first officer steps into the real airplane to fly it is full of passengers. The savings from these efforts in terms of dollars, safety and time to train have been so significant that airlines were able to pay for their entire training programs with the fuel savings alone. The oil embargo provided the military the incentive to try and achieve the same type of benefit as the airlines, from its aircrew training programs, through an extensive use of aircrew training devices. Early in this effort, the military realized that the vast differences between commercial airline operations and military missions made it extremely difficult to apply ground based trainers to the same extent as the airlines. Simulators lacked the fidelity to reproduce the military training environment. This paper will review the current situation concerning simulation within the Air Force and outline the steps we are taking to better apply training simulation to the military mission. It reviews the challenges still lying ahead, especially in the areas which require the exploitation of human factors research and application.

Low cost aircrew training devices

The purpose of this talk is to describe some of the more simple aids used in the training of aircrew and to illustrate how they can be integrated with flight simulators and aircraft to form a systematic approach to aircrew training. Of course, low cost aids do not solve all training problems, neither can they replace the aircraft or the flight simulator for many tasks, but they are worth examining for reasons which will appear in this paper.As a start, it might be useful to look at a typical flight simulator and note some of its characteristics as a teaching device.

Simulator Training Requirements and Effectiveness Study (STRES)

A description is provided of a research study being conducted by the United States Air Force with participation by representatives from the Army and Navy. The basic objectives of this study are to define, collect, analyze and present data, findings and conclusions relevant to the use, effectiveness and cost of aircrew training devices. Study philosophy, approach, difficulties and current status are discussed.

Behavioral Data in the Design of Aircrew Training Devices

Attention has recently been focused on the use of ISD behavioral data for specifying aircrew training requirements. However, behavioral data are not sufficient for the actual specification of design of equipment, which frequently represents the major dollar investment for training programs. The paper presents a methodology for designing training equipment. This methodology in some ways goes beyond the collection of behavioral data, and in other ways ayoids the weaknesses of the behavioral data approach. The emphasis is on ensuring that device fidelity requirements are specifically correlated with training requirements. Four critical areas are addressed: (1) acquisition of behavioral data; (2) determination of training capabilities; (3) performance measurement; and (4) special requirements for crew coordination training.