Simulator Sickness During Emergency Procedures Training in a Helicopter Simulator: Age, Flight Experience, and Amount Learned

摘要

This research measured simulator sickness both before and after exposure to a helicopter simulator that was being used for emergency procedures training. Research issues were the incidence and magnitude of simulator sickness, after effects, susceptibility, and the effect of simulator sickness on training effectiveness. A total of 474 AH-64A (Apache) Army aviators participated in this research. The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSO) was administered prior to simulator exposure, immediately after simulator exposure, and twelve hours later. The incidence rate following simulator exposure was 68 percent. The SSQ Total Severity score was significantly larger immediately after exposure than it was prior to simulator exposure or twelve hours later. Age was significantly and positively correlated with SSO score, after the effect of total flight hours was held constant. Flight hours did not correlate with SSO score, after the effect of age was held constant. These results were consistent with postural instability theory. Both prior history of motion sickness and prior history of simulator sickness were significantly and positively correlated 'with SSO score. The strongest susceptibility factor noted in this research was prior history of simulator sickness. SSO score was not correlated with training effectiveness, as measured by a short behavioral test.