Flight Simulator Motion Literature Pertinent to Airline-Pilot Recurrent Training and Evaluation

Abstract

There has been much debate over the years regarding the need for flight simulator motion for airline-pilot training and evaluation. From the intuitive perspective there is the dictum, "The airplane moves, so the simulator must move" -but intuition alone is not enough to make a valid case for requiring elaborate-and costly-motion systems for training and evaluation of airline pilots. The ultimate goal of training and checking-to produce and maintain highly-skilled pilots capable of ensuring a superior level of safety in both normal and abnormal flight operations-cannot be met without adequate resources available to all airlines world-wide. A big part of the motion debate is what resources are adequate-whether the current regulations specifying six-degree-of-freedom Stewart-motion platforms are appropriate or whether the regulations need to be modified; whether advanced-motion-system simulators, which more realistically simulate aircraft motion, are needed; or whether more flexible motion criteria opening the field for alternative motion stimulation would improve universal access to simulator training and thus benefit safety. While there has been much debate, the main issues regarding motion can be broken down into four main facets: 1) how the human perception system responds to airplane motion; 2) the limits of the hexapod-motion systems currently regulated for pilot training in accurately simulating airplane motion; 3) the opinions of aviation experts who experience the issue in the real training environment; and 4) empirical evidence on the necessity of physical motion systems for effective simulator training and checking to ensure transfer between simulator and airplane. This paper brings all of these aspects together by summarizing the literature pertinent to the simulator-motion debate. First, we discuss the extent to which humans' ability to perceive and appropriately respond to aircraft disturbances depends on visual motion, physical motion, or both. Second, current limitations in flight data availability for certain scenarios, as well as simulator hardware limitations, are discussed. Third, we summarize and respond to the published positions of several stakeholders. Fourth, a range of analytic and empirical work is summarized, from enhanced motion-feedback modeling to pilot-in-the-loop experiments, as well as meta-analytical work on the benefit of motion simulation on transfer of training to the airplane. This includes a synthesis of the Federal Aviation Administration/Volpe Center empirical studies to date. NomenclatureV 1 = takeoff decision speed; the minimum speed in the takeoff, following a failure of the critical engine, at which the pilot can continue the takeoff and achieve the required height above the takeoff surface within the takeoff distance V 2 = takeoff safety speed; a speed that will provide at least the gradient of climb required by the airplane certification rules with the critical engine inoperative V 1 /V 2 cut = engine failure at or above V 1 or V 2 , respectively, with continued takeo...

Flight Simulator Fidelity, Training Transfer, and the Role of Instructors in Optimizing Learning

“…Burki-Cohen, Go, and Longridge (2001) researched engine failure scenarios that resulted in either a rejected take-off or continued take-off. They concluded from their study that motion for these tasks did not affect evaluation and training simulator progress or transfer of training.…”

“…They concluded from their study that motion for these tasks did not affect evaluation and training simulator progress or transfer of training. The authors, while exploring fidelity background information, did note that motion improved pilot performance and control behavior when performing disturbance and tracking tasks for low stability aircraft in the simulator (Burki-Cohen et al, 2001). …”

“…Thus, simulators must represent the motor and cognitive challenges that would be experienced in an operational environment. Additionally, the simulators must be sufficient to ensure full transfer of performance and behaviors that would be experienced in the air (Burki-Cohen, et al, 2001). To change regulatory guidance regarding fidelity, consistent study results must present unequivocal evidence to prove that high-fidelity is not required for the individual tasks in question (Bürki-Cohen, et al, 2000).…”

Prototipo de una plataforma móvil de bajo coste para simulación de vuelo de alto realismo

“…Esto se consigue gracias a su movilidad, lo que lo distingue claramente de otros trabajos en los que se diseñan y construyen simuladores para entrenamiento que carecen de plataforma móvil, como en (Wu and Sun, 2013). En este sentido, (Bürki-Cohen et al, 2011) reflejan la controversia existente en un análisis sobre la literatura relativa a simulación de vuelo.Éste es un debate interesante respecto a en qué medida la movilidad de un simulador de vuelo es crucial para su uso como sistema de formación de pilotos comerciales. De hecho, estos autores hablan literalmente de la evidencia empírica de la necesidad de disponer de sistemas dotados de movimiento para una formación efectiva mediante simulación y, además, de verificar que existe una correcta correspondencia entre el simulador y el avión.…”

“…Toda vez que la importancia del movimiento en los simuladores de vuelo es contrastada, el coste de dichos sistemas es otra variable a tener en cuenta. También se afirma en (Bürki-Cohen et al, 2011) que un entrenamiento apropiado es esencial para obtener y mantener pilotos con un alto nivel, y que esto requiere de recursos adecuados que puedan estar disponibles para todas las aerolíneas alrededor del mundo. Como consecuencia de ello, todos los esfuerzos para el desarrollo de dispositivos de bajo coste son bienvenidos.…”