Integration of Affordable Information Technology Products into General Aviation Training and Research

摘要

Aircraft pilot training programs and aviation research projects contain portions that do not require utilization of sophisticated and highly expensive full flight simulators and flight training devices (FTD) with high fidelity of simulation, or real aircraft flights. Increased variety of affordable software and hardware became conducive to construction of relatively inexpensive personal-computer-based flight simulation tools named low fidelity simulators (LFS) that can boost development of aircraft pilots' cognitive and behavioral skills, as well as help acquire valuable research results. Describing examples of collegiate aviation LFS-based training and research activities the paper attempts to reveal how the LFS concept can prop up research and pilot proficiency enhancement in the General Aviation - an important branch of the U.S. national civil aviation. The LFS concept utilization demonstrated optimistic outcomes in aviation college student pilots' flight proficiency progress along with training cost reduction and student retention, as well as in aviation human factors research aimed at light aircraft flight safety enhancement through better understanding of single pilot performance issues. The peer mentoring technique proven to be helpful in higher education institutions, was introduced in aviation training environment by means of the LFS in addition to standard flight training process, and showed positive results. Student pilots demonstrated improvement of their progress in regular flight training lessons after preliminary peer mentored self-training exercises in the LFS. Positive results were also achieved when certified instructor pilots performed LFS introductory training of student pilots in teamwork and crew resource management before standard FTD multi-crew training sessions were initiated. Supported by the Federal Aviation Administration collaboration in LFS-based research endeavors performed in leading U.S. universities with aviation programs has produced promising preliminary results significant for General Aviation flight safety improvement based on enhancement of pilot decision making in hazardous weather conditions.