Effectiveness of Computer-based Flight Simulation

Abstract

The study measured the transfer effectiveness ratio from a computer-based flight simulation to a Link GAT I generic flight training device. The computer-based simulation consisted of Microsoft Flight Simulator software run on an IBM PS/2 Model 80 integrated with a set of Microflight Simulator flight controls by Wagner Computer Products. There were 71 volunteer subjects who had zero flying experience piloting an airplane or using Microsoft Flight Simulator. Their ages ranged from 16 to 71. The subjects were randomly divided between a control group and an experimental group. The experimental group consisted of 29 subjects who flew a basic attitude instrument pattern first on the computer-based flight simulator to private pilot criterion, then again in a Link GAT I flight training device to the same criterion. The control group consisted of 33 subjects who flew an identical basic attitude instrument pattern to criterion in the GAT I flight training device only. The experimental group was compared to the control group using a transfer effectiveness ratio. It was determined that one hour of training using computer-based flight simulation resulted in a saving of 22.8 minutes of training in the Link GAT I, yielding a transfer effectiveness ratio value of 0.38.