Aviation Safety: Research Supports Limited Use of Personal Computer Aviation Training Devices for Pilots

摘要

You asked us to (1) describe the process and information FAA used in deciding to approve the use of personal computer devices for 10 hours of instrument training and (2) discuss what is known about the training effectiveness of these devices and their long term impact on a pilot's ability to fly safely. To respond to these objectives, we interviewed federal officials and others familiar with FAA's decision and reviewed FAA's supporting documentation; conducted a comprehensive literature search on the use of these and similar computer based devices, on instrument training, and on general aviation safety; reviewed about 700 studies and articles; analyzed and summarized the most relevant data based literature; interviewed government, academic, and private sector flight instruction experts on the use of the devices; and identified other issues related to the devices' potential impacts on aviation safety.