Trainee Pilots Research Articles

The development of a conceptual maritime training and assessment framework for Malaysian maritime pilots using the knowledge, skills, and abilities approach

ABSTRACT The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) Theory explains that knowledge develops one’s skills, leading to improved abilities. This study hypothesised that the KSA approach could be applied to developing a conceptual training and assessment framework for Malaysian maritime pilots as it could assist in improving the competency of future trainee pilots. This framework’s development was commenced by obtaining maritime pilot training and assessment modules from competent pilotage authorities (CPAs) in Malaysia. The modules were then collated, and items were identified as factors and subfactors of knowledge, skills, and abilities. The Factors, Filtering, and Filtered Elements (FFF) model was utilised to measure maritime KSAs for data collection and filtration purposes. The data collected were then analysed utilising principal component analysis (PCA) and the Pearson correlation test, which involves using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). In summary, the data obtained from this study’s respondents successfully proved that the KSA approach can be applied to the creation of a maritime pilot training and assessment framework.

Prefetch and Push Method of Flight Information Based on Migration Workflow

As the architecture of aircraft cockpit panels becomes more complicated and more flight data are placed onto the panels, trainee pilots require more time during flight training to learn and comprehend flight information. This problem lengthens flight training time and raises costs. This paper proposes a mechanism for prefetching and pushing flight information to facilitate flight training for trainee pilots. This paper addresses the challenges of a high quantity of data and the chaotic time-series relationship between distinct data in flight sequence data by building a migration workflow model in the aircraft cockpit environment and getting flight data with shorter time intervals. Then the flight data are input into the Multilayer Perceptron Long Short-Term Memory (MLP-LSTM) prediction algorithm, which generates the prompt operation information and prediction information by analyzing the current flight data and predicting flight data of next stage. A case study of the takeoff stage is given. The experimental results of the prediction algorithm are given, which prove that the time-series flight data refined by the migration workflow model and MLP-LSTM algorithm have a better prediction effect compared with the LSTM algorithm.

Reduction of the vertical vestibular-ocular reflex in military aircraft pilots exposed to tactical, high-performance flight.

Exposure to high-performance flight stresses the vestibular system and may lead to adaptive changes in the vestibular responses of pilots. We investigated the vestibular-ocular reflex of pilots with different histories of flight exposure both with respect to hours of flight and flight conditions (tactical, high-performance vs. non-high-performance) to evaluate if and how adaptative changes are observable. We evaluated the vestibular-ocular reflex of aircraft pilots using the video Head Impulse Test. In study 1, we assessed three groups of military pilots: Group 1 had 68 pilots with few hours of flight experience (<300 h) in non-high-performance flight conditions; Group 2 had 15 pilots with many hours of flight (>3,000 h) and regularly flying tactical, high-performance flight conditions; Group 3 had eight pilots with many hours of flight (>3,000 h) but not exposed to tactical, high-performance flight conditions. In study 2, four trainee pilots were followed up and tested three times over a 4-year period: (1) <300 h of flight on civil aircraft; (2) shortly after exposure to aerobatic training and with <2,000 h of overall flight; and (3) after training on tactical, high-performance aircraft (F/A 18) and for more than 2,000 h of flight. Study 1: Pilots of tactical, high-performance aircrafts (Group 2) had significantly lower gain values (p < 0.05) as compared to Groups 1 and 3, selectively for the vertical semicircular canals. They also had a statistically (p = 0.022) higher proportion (0.53) of pathological values in at least one vertical semicircular canal as compared to the other groups. Study 2: A statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the rVOR gains of all vertical semicircular canals, but not of the horizontal canals, was observed. Two pilots had a pathological value in at least one vertical semicircular canal in the third test. The results evidence a decrease in the gain of the vestibular-ocular reflex as measured with the video head impulse test for the vertical canals. This decrease appears to be associated with the exposure to tactical, high-performance flight rather than with the overall flight experience.

Virtual Reality: The Technology of the Future

Abstract: VR is everywhere. It’s makes use of aren't simply constrained to gaming however it's also utilized by scientific college students for digital operations, trainee pilots for flight simulation, therapists to deal with PTSD in patients, and engineers for higher mechanical experiences. For an authentic and sensible revel in, manufactures want to investigate on a massive range of fronts. They want to apprehend how imaginative and prescient and belief work in actual life. The human eye is flooded with sensory inputs constantly. Electromagnetic radiation carrying vital records like color, depth, and assessment act as messengers for the attention. The photo-receptors present with inside the flat retina convert the light obtained into electric signals. The mind acts as a clear out and facilitates us see the vibrant, colorful, and third-dimensional global, as we recognize it

What the Birkman Method© Can Tell Us about the Psychological Profile of Business Aviation Departments, Their Leadership, Strengths, and Challenges

ABSTRACT Method The study summarizes a significant amount of Birkman data, validated by one-on-one interviews with business aviation professionals and supported by close observation of the departments and corporations where they work. Objective Earlier research focused on military, commercial, and trainee pilots; the present study of business aviation examines not only pilots but also maintenance technicians, cabin attendants, schedulers, and directors of aviation who fly, maintain, and manage corporate jets. Results The findings compare the resulting profile(s) with output from previous studies; throw additional light on the “boomerang effect” in CRM training and other unresolved issues and ambiguities in existing knowledge; and suggest directions for further research, including refined methods and broadened uses for psychological assessments in and beyond the selection process.

Assessment of the mental workload of trainee pilots of remotely operated aircraft using functional near-infrared spectroscopy

BackgroundOperating an aircraft is associated with a large mental workload; however, knowledge of the mental workload of ROV operators is limited. The purpose of this study was to establish a digital system for assessing the mental workload of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operators using hemodynamic parameters, and compare results of different groups with different experience levels.MethodForty-one trainee pilots performed flight tasks once daily for 5 consecutive days in a flight simulation. Forty-five pilots experienced pilots and 68 experienced drivers were also included. Hemodynamic responses were measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).ResultsThe median duration of peak oxyhemoglobin was 147.13 s (interquartile range [IQR] 21.97, 401.70 s) in the left brain and 180.74 s (IQR 34.37, 432.01 s) in the right brain in the experienced pilot group, and 184.42 s (IQR 3.41, 451.81 s) on day 5 in the left brain and 160.30 s (IQR 2.62, 528.20 s) in the right brain in the trainee group.ConclusionNavigation training reduces peak oxyhemoglobin duration, and may potentially be used as a surrogate marker for mental workload of ROV operators. Peak oxyhemoglobin concentration during s task may allow development of a simplified scheme for optimizing flight performance based on the mental workload of a pilot.

Pilots’ mental workload variation when taking a risk in a flight scenario: a study based on flight simulator experiments

Pilots’ operation behavior in flight is associated with their mental state variables such as workload, situation awareness, stress, etc. The objective of this study was to investigate the dynamic process of mental workload for pilots who perform a risky flight task in simulated scenarios. Two empirical experiments were conducted to address this issue. In experiment one, 19 trainee pilots divided into high-risk and low-risk groups performed a target-search task in a low-altitude visual flight. The results showed a statistically significant interaction between groups and segments for heart rate variability (HRV). The same pattern of physiological results was replicated among participants in experiment two, in which 19 airline pilots completed an approach with low visibility. These findings highlighted the relationship between mental workload variation and risk-taking behavior, which could be considered in improving pilot selection and training to improve flight safety.

Flight maneuver intelligent recognition based on deep variational autoencoder network

The selection and training of aircraft pilots has high standards, long training cycles, high resource consumption, high risk, and high elimination rate. It is the particularly urgent and important requirement for the current talent training strategy of national and military to increase efficiency and speed up all aspects of pilot training, reduce the training cycle and reduce the elimination rate. To this end, this paper uses deep variational auto-encoder network and adaptive dynamic time warping algorithms as support to explore the establishment of an integrated evaluation system for flight maneuver recognition and quality evaluation, solve the industry difficulty faced by current flight training data mining applications, and achieve accurate recognition and reliable quality evaluation of flight regimes under the background of high mobility. It will fully explore the benefits of existing airborne flight data for military trainee pilots, support the personalized and accurate training of flight talents, and reduce the rate of talent elimination.

The Effect of Vocal Tone of Feedback on Student Pilot Performance

ABSTRACT Objective: This study examines the effect of “tone of feedback” on student pilot flight performance. Background: Corrective feedback is primarily given verbally in flight training to facilitate trainee pilot performance. Such feedback can be provided using different vocal tones (i.e., positive, neutral, negative). How the effectiveness of the feedback varies based on changes in vocal tone remains unknown. Method: Thirty-eight student pilots completed two simulated flights, both involving a right-hand circuit. Following the first flight, the student pilots listened to prerecorded verbal feedback in either a positive, neutral or negative tone about their flight performance, in terms of mean altitude during the downwind leg. Deviation from the target altitude during downwind in the second flight was examined. Self-efficacy and self-esteem were also measured to examine their mediating effect. Results: The results revealed that student pilots who received a positive tone of feedback performed significantly worse than pilots who received neutral or negative tones of feedback. No mediating effects were found for self-efficacy or self-esteem. Conclusion: These findings provide aviation authorities and training organizations insight into the effect of tone of feedback on trainee pilots’ performance. Understanding this effect has the potential to improve student pilot learning outcomes and performance.

Investigating the Predictive Validity of the COMPASS Pilot Selection Test

ABSTRACT Objective: The present study examined the predictive validity of a widely used pilot selection test known as COMPASS, in terms of its ability to distinguish between candidates and predict individuals’ aptitude for flying. Background: The Computerized Pilot Aptitude Screening System, more commonly known as COMPASS is a widely used selection test for ab-initio pilots. However, a literature search failed to uncover any research examining its predictive validity. Method: Thirty-five trainee pilots completed COMPASS, along with a simulated flight on a computer-based flight simulator to obtain an objective flight performance measure. Hours to flying milestones, including first solo and Recreational Pilot License, along with more subjective measures such as performance ratings by flying instructors were also compared to COMPASS. Twenty non-pilots also completed COMPASS. Results: The results revealed COMPASS to be effective in distinguishing between trainee pilots and non-pilots. However, there was no relationship between COMPASS scores and the various flight performance measures. Conclusion: These results should aid decision-makers when considering the viability of pilot selection tests, and reiterate the importance of using multiple methods/tools when attempting to select appropriate candidates for a specific role.

A simultaneous sequencing and allocation problem for military pilot training: Integer programming approaches

In this paper, we study a unique, rich combinatorial optimization problem that arose from helicopter aircrew training for the Royal Australian Navy. Each pilot trainee (student) has to complete a syllabus. A syllabus is a sequence of courses (commonly known as subjects), and each course is associated with a pass rate. A pre-requisite structure exists amongst some courses. Each course has a number of repeated sessions, each spanning the same amount of time, but occupying a different set of (possibly overlapping) time slots. A feasible schedule is a sequence of course sessions such that each course in the syllabus is covered by exactly one session, and that all pre-requisite requirements are observed. The optimization problem is to simultaneously assemble course sessions to form feasible schedules, allocate students to these schedules with an objective to minimize the total time-span in completing the syllabus, while ensuring that the class size limits for each course session is not exceeded. The problem is different from the school or university time tabling family of problems due to the assembly component required. This paper is to serve as a pilot study: we derive a number of mixed-integer linear programming models and investigate their performance using test instances provided for us by our industry partner. For each of these models, we propose a number of solution strategies as topics for future research papers. From our numerical testing, it appears that the Column Generation-based approach is computationally the most promising method.

Feedback and Student Learning: Matching Learning and Teaching Style to Improve Student Pilot Performance

ABSTRACT Objective: The present research investigated the relationship and the efficacy of two different modalities in which feedback is provided, namely “visual” and “auditory” on student pilot learning. Background: Pilot training has remained relatively unchanged for over thirty years. The syllabi for flight training contains little information about specific educational techniques or instructions that may assist the flight instructor in his/her role. Matching the learning style of the student, to that of the teaching style of the educator/instructor has the potential to improve learning outcomes. Method: Eighteen trainee pilots were divided into either visual or auditory learners based on the VARK learning styles model and asked to complete three test flights involving a left-hand circuit using a flight simulator. After each flight, pilots received feedback (control – no feedback, visual, auditory) about a different aspect of their flight performance (actual compared to target). Results: The results revealed when the modality in which the feedback was provided matched the preferred learning style of the pilot, improvements in performance resulted. When there was a mismatch between the two, adverse effects were evident for auditory learners only. Conclusion: From a theoretical perspective, the results provide clear evidence of the link between learning and teaching styles. From an applied perspective, these results highlight the potential benefits of aligning teaching and learning styles in flight training.

Towards autonomy: A recommender system for the determination of trim and flight parameters for Seagliders

Currently, pilots maximise the performance of Seaglider underwater gliders by manually selecting their set-up parameters. Building on existing procedures based on the assumption of steady-state motions, a recommender system for the trim and flight parameters has been developed to aid trainee pilots and enable round-the-clock operations. The system has been validated with data from 12 missions run in waters off the United Kingdom and Australia, representative of a range of oceanographic conditions. The recommended trim parameters present a maximum difference of 14% from the values selected by the pilots, whereas pilots are found not to change the flight parameters. Additionally, suggestions are made to improve operational practices to further improve the accuracy of the recommender system. As a result, the developed system is expected to greatly help trainee pilots achieve expertise in a much smaller time frame than standard practice. Additionally, thanks to its high precision, the recommender system can be used to autonomously select the trim and flight parameters of Seagliders for night operations in the future.

AGSM Proficiency and Depression Are Associated With Success of High-G Training in Trainee Pilots.

INTRODUCTION: High-gravity (G) training is used to educate trainee pilots about anti-G straining maneuvers (AGSM) in an environment similar to that of a real fighter aircraft, and to enhance their G tolerance. The success or failure of high-G training could be multifactorial, but most previous studies have only focused on the effect of pilots' physical condition.METHODS: A total of 138 male trainee pilots participated in this study. All trainee pilots had received AGSM training from experienced instructors and then underwent centrifuge high-G training. Participants completed questionnaire surveys about body size, lifestyle, self-reported AGSM proficiency, resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, CD-RISC), and depression level (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES-D).RESULTS: Of the 138 subjects, 100 (72.5%) successfully completed high-G training without experiencing G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) within two trials; these were allocated to the success group. The remaining 38 (27.5%) subjects who completed the training after three or more attempts, or who failed to complete the training at all, were allocated to the failure group. Multivariate analyses revealed that the success of centrifuge training was positively associated with age and self-reported AGSM proficiency, and negatively associated with depression level.DISCUSSION: The success of high-G training was significantly associated with self-reported AGSM proficiency and depression level. Instructors should emphasize the importance of AGSM proficiency and offer practice-based learning to trainee pilots. In addition, they should pay attention to not only trainee pilots' physical condition, but also their psychological status.Yun C, Oh S, Shin YH. AGSM proficiency and depression are associated with success of high-G training in trainee pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2019; 90(7):613-617.

A mathematical model of force on control column of a low-cost flight simulator

The personal computer based aviation training device (PCATD) is a type of low cost flight simulator which is widely used in the general aviation industry in procedural flight training. Apart from visual effects, a PCATD does not provide trainee pilots with the same physical experience as the physical feeling they receive in actual flights. To improve the fidelity in flight control of PCATD for our Diamond DA-40 trainer aircraft, a force feed-back system is proposed for one of the flight control systems, the control column in the cockpit. The core element of this proposed system is the mathematical model to simulate the resultant forces on the control column when a manoeuvre is performed. This mathematical model considers the general aerodynamic forces exerted on the control surfaces, and the specific aerodynamic forces caused by the configuration of the aircraft, the static forces and dynamic forces along the control transmission systems. This model is two dimensional only, pitching and rolling, which are performed by the control column. A special regime of detecting the movement of the control column with visual analysis is developed due to the dimensional and regulatory restrictions in a cockpit. The force feed-back on the control column following the movement of the control is calculated by the model. The results of the calculations explain the features of the components of the total force on control, which will assist the planning and implementation of applying this force model in the simulator. References Edward Lewis Houghton and Peter William Carpenter. Aerodynamics for engineering students. Elsevier, 2003. AC Revised Kermode, edited by RH Barnard, and DR Philpott. Mechanics of flight, 1996. Savern L Reweti, Andrew Gilbey, and Lynn Jeffrey. Efficacy of low-cost PC-based aviation training devices. Journal of Information Technology Education-Research, 16:127–142, 2017. Yoonsu Nam. Qft force loop design for the aerodynamic load simulator. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 37(4):1384–1392, 2001, doi:10.1109/7.976973 . Garrett Weinberg and Bret Harsham. Developing a low-cost driving simulator for the evaluation of in-vehicle technologies. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Automotive User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular Applications, pages 51–54. ACM, 2009, doi:10.1145/1620509.1620519 .

Selecting trainee pilots: Predictive validity of the WOMBAT situational awareness pilot selection test

The WOMBAT pilot selection test is widely used to select candidates for pilot training programs. Despite use in many countries, little information is available regarding the predictive validity of the test. This study was designed to test the ability of the WOMBAT test to predict performance outcomes in a sample of ab-initio pilots. Sixty students commenced the study in 3 cohorts, and completed the WOMBAT test before their performance in the training program was evaluated through flight time to solo, flight time to licence level achievement, and instructor ratings of performance. Higher WOMBAT total scores were significantly related to reduced time to solo, achieving flight licences, as well as some early ratings of performance by flight instructors. Further research now needs to examine the exact nature of the skills and abilities that the test indexes in order to further improve pilot selection and training procedures.

Predictive Validity of Spatial Ability and Perceptual Speed Tests for Aviator Training

ABSTRACTObjective: To present a multistudy examination of spatial ability and perceptual speed tests as predictors of Air Force aviator academic and flying training outcomes.Background: Whereas verbal and math tests are commonly used in academic and pre-employment selection, spatial ability and perceptual speed testing are less common. Spatial ability and perceptual speed tests have been a mainstay in U.S. Air Force aviation training selection batteries for decades, as part of the process for selecting aviation training candidates.Method and Results: Factor analysis (Study 1) of spatial, perceptual speed, and academic aptitude tests shows a 2-factor solution. Meta-analysis results (Study 2) of the predictive validity of spatial and perceptual speed tests relative to verbal, math, and technical knowledge tests show spatial ability, aviation knowledge, and perceptual speed tests are better significant predictors of aviator flying performance, whereas academic aptitude best predicts classroom performance. Incremental validity analyses (Study 3) of spatial and perceptual speed above academic and technical knowledge for academic and pilot trainee flying performance were performed. Although spatial ability lacks incremental validity over academic and technical aptitude, perceptual speed has incremental validity above academic and technical aptitude for predicting pilot trainee flying performance.Conclusion: Perceptual speed, an aspect of spatial ability, can provide incremental predictive validity beyond academic and technical knowledge measures alone for applied science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields like military aviation.

원격조종항공기조종사 적성검사에 관한 연구 (적성검사 항목선정을 중심으로)

Recently, the need of RPA(Remotely Piloted Aircraft) pilots is increasing rapidly with many requirements in order to be a beginner RPA pilot, including basic flight training, instrument flight qualification training, and aircraft type switching training. When RPA pilot gets disqualified, there will be generated much waste of efforts and expenses of trainees those pilots who are disqualified. Therefore, the methodology of pre-verifying those pilots who are not proper as RPA pilots through various scientific methods will save time and expenses with pre-reducing the pilots who will get disqualified later on. The methodology of aptitude test of RPA pilots is laid out as a consideration of pre-study of RPA pilots work analysis, and select types of aptitude test. A suitability of aptitude test is verified. In order to diagnose the flight aptitude precisely, it requires to be developed. Flight aptitude test tools might be connected with training program which could foster piloting aptitude with pre-diagnosing RPA pilot trainee selecting process. For that reason, we made an experiment in order to verify credibility and suitability of these selected programs with developing RPA pilot aptitude test tools. And also, we analyzed relationships among characteristics, analysis of data, and variables to verify the efficiency of data from prior experiment. Through this thesis, we expect to raise efficiency of flight training by providing pre-flight aptitude test information of RPA pilots.

1302 フライトシミュレータによる航空機操縦技量解析手法の研究

We analyze pilot flight technique using the fixed base flight simulator of the Suzuki-Tsuchiya laboratory at The University of Tokyo. We look at pitch control style and input frequencies in particular, and identified differences between professional pilots and students without prior flight experience. Also students with a lot of experience playing the Microsoft Flight Simulator game show a typical control style. In addition we can distinguish control styles between instrument flight and visual flight. We provided simulator training to a number of students and followed them over a period of a few months. The analysis of their data shows that their control input frequency increases, and resembles the professional pilot's control style more and more. In addition, we found trainees develop a characteristic change in the pupil diameter just before landing comparable with professional pilots. We believe these findings are an important step towards the objective evaluation of trainee pilots.

대학 부설 비행훈련원의 효율적인 조종인력 양성을 위한 교육효과성 측정 연구

Due to the rapid growth of domestic and overseas airline markets, the demand for airline pilots has also been growing fast. Meeting such a market needs, central government, Ministry of Land and Transportation has set up civil airline pilot training center at Ulgin airport to train and provide the market with commercial airline pilots. Not only central government but universities in Korea also have tried to train pilots by operating flight training academies. Even though there are more than a dozen of flight training centers including colleges and private academies, there have been less efforts to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of the flight training school`s curriculums compared to other scholar majors in a university. Therefore this paper tried to evaluate the educational effectiveness of the curriculums using the Kirk-Patrick measurement model, which has been regarded as one of the most popular and accurate measurement tool for an empirical research in social science. According to the empirical research, it was found out the inter-personal relationship between an instructor pilot and flight trainee was perceived as the most important factor to have an impact on learning abilities and student`s behaviors.