FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
PUBLICATIONS
AVIATION MEDICINE REPORTS

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-97/11

Title and Subtitle: Transfer of Training Effectiveness of Personal Computer-Based Aviation Training Devices

Report Date: May 1997

Authors: Taylor, H.L., Lintern, G., Hulin, C.L., Talleur, D., Emanuel, T., and Phillips, S.

Abstract: The training effectiveness of Personal Computer-Based Aviation Training Devices (PCATDs) has received only limited testing. In the experiment reported here, a commercially available PCATD was evaluated in a transfer of training experiment for its effectiveness in supporting instrument flight training. The data show levels of savings in airplane flight time that varied from 15% to over 40% for certain training exercises. However, there were also cases in which savings were essentially zero or even showed decrements as high as 25%. In general, transfer savings were positive and substantial when new tasks were introduced. The data indicate that a PCATD can provide training benefit for certain tasks but, in addition, use of the PCATD in some areas is not expected to result in savings and will erode the overall potential to reduce costs.

Key Words: Personal Computer-Based Aviation Training Devices, Flight Training, Instrument Flight, Psychology, Applied Psychology

No. of Pages: 24