SIMULATOR TRAINING: HOW IMPORTANT IS MOTION?

Flight simulation is a part of nearly every pilot's curriculum, whether he or she is just starting out, staying current, or landing a type rating. But the type of simulation and its benefits (especially when it comes to motion) is often the subject of controversy -- maybe for good reason. Use of simulation is the result of a simple equation that offers safety, economic, and educational benefits. Simulator training often affords flight students a wider range of learning scenarios without risk to persons or property and without burning fuel. As the range of available simulators grows, students are presented with more options, offering a wider range of features -- at a wider range of price points. But when it comes to the motion of an aircraft, a number of studies and experiments suggest cost may matter less than you might think. And, if it does matter, a recent comprehensive study suggests the extent of motion training's benefits may depend on the level of experience you have and the type of training you seek.

A prime indicator of the efficacy of simulator training is a measure known as "transfer of training." Essentially, this is the ability of a subject to accurately and easily transfer into a real aircraft the skills learned in a simulator. Intuition might suggest the most realistic simulators should produce the best results regarding transfer of training. That includes perceptually critical similarities; the color of the interior isn't as important as its shape or the location of its yoke and radios. Motion, however, is more complex. Reproducing an aircraft's actual motions in reality is practically impossible. And accurately simulating realistic motion is complicated (read expensive). In the real world, we care about results. Unfortunately, when comparing the benefits of full-motion simulators with those capable of less motion (and, in some cases, no motion at all), the results are similarly complicated.

As one study puts it, when it comes to motion, "numerous other moderator variables might influence its effectiveness, including the presence and quality of the visual display, temporal synchronization between motion and visuals, the quality of auditory cues, the vehicle dynamics model and type of aircraft, degrees of freedom of the motion system, duration and type of training, measurement equipment used, and the motion drive algorithm." In other words, motion isn't the only game in town. Some studies suggest there are training scenarios in which actual motion may not matter at all.

A SCHEDULE NOT KEPT

A must-be-there business meeting enticed two pilots to launch into weather they couldn't handle; with predictable results.

An old and often-used justification for owning a light General Aviation aircraft is the ability to bypass the automobile and the airlines in order to spend valuable time in a more productive manner. This rationalization focuses on the time savings created by flying oneself.

Thus, according to the reasoning, it is possible to easily meet with clients in distant cities and be home for dinner. And as pilots, we also know it's always more fun to fly ourselves than it is to drive or to sit in the back of a crowded airliner.

REFURB OF THE MONTH: FRANK DORRIN'S PIPER PA-30 TWIN COMANCHE

click for photos

When Piper replaced the Apache with the Twin Comanche in the early 1960s, the idea was to create "everyman's twin" with the relative safety of a twin but with approachable sticker price and operation costs of a big single. The persistence of loyalty to the peppy and comfy airplane is exemplified by Frank Dorrin's devotion to his project plane. More...

PODCAST: CAFE EXPLORES ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT
The 7th Annual CAFE Electric Aircraft Symposium is coming up in April. Dr. Brien Seeley, president of the CAFE Foundation, talks with AVweb's Mary Grady about the event and explains why he thinks electric propulsion will be a transformative technology for general aviation.

This podcast is brought to you by Bose Corporation. More...

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AVwebFlash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the world's premier independent aviation news resource.

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