The Feasibility of Using an Adaptive Technique in Flight Simulator Training

This study explores the feasibility of using an adaptive technique in flight simulator training to improve piloting skills. An operational flight simulator is used to simulate a jet fighter aircraft. Eighteen non-jet-experienced pilots are assigned to two groups for the purpose of receiving equivalent amounts of practice in the task of maintaining a constant altitude program during simulated air turbulence. One group is trained using an adaptive technique and the other is trained under conditions more representative of conventional training. The hypothesis is that an adaptive technique is feasible if adaptively trained pilots are more proficient than conventionally trained pilots when transferred to a flight simulation representative of an aircraft in turbulent air. Resulting data support the hypothesis.