> Hi all:
>
> While I am not certain that an unguided discovery-type learning situation
> is the most effective/fastest way to improve the CRM skills, the practice
> approach mentioned by Doug Edwards is clearly an extremely important and
> effective one.
>
> In our experience, you can improve the effectiveness of this approach even
> more if, instead of "just" sitting at the table, you give the pilots a
> personal computer with an off-the-shelf flight simulation (game?!)
> program, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator. Pick the Learjet or the C182
> (what ever is closest to the speed your pilots will fly at/incidentally,
> DO NOT try to emulate the exact aircraft your pilots fly), select a city
> pair, and, zoom, you have added so much operational realism to the
> practice exercise that even the most skeptical pilot comes around and
> starts working on his/her CRM skills. And all that at $60 for the
> software, $60 for a joystick/yoke (pedals are not required for airplanes,
> and probably get in the way), and using any old PC that's probably already
> around in your organization.
>
> The beauty of the whole thing (other than cost) is the fact that you can
> practice (almost) anywhere, in an office, a classroom, etc. Further, REAL
> charts and REAL checklists work with it (you might have to fake a switch
> here or there), and the pilots get real time dynamics combined with actual
> performance feedback (just look at their faces when they break out at 200
> and 1 and the runway is not where they all along thought it would be). As
> you can tell, I am enthusiastic about this...
>
> After 10 years of using PC-based simulations in team training research,
> development, and training, we firmly believe that these simulations are
> extremely effective tools for CRM skills practice, especially if you
> cannot spend the money for, or do not have access to full flight sims.
> Incidentally, Aer Lingus has been using them, as has the U.S. Navy.
>
> We have a number of papers that we (and others) have published/presented
> on this issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you want more info
> on the use of PC-based simulations and their validity in training research
> and administration.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Florian Jentsch, Ph.D.
> Research Scientist
> Team Performance Lab
> University of Central Florida
Hellow Florian,
We have also had very good results using PC ATD's for crew training.
For MD-80 operators, the Elite Jet PC ATD, is an almost exact emulation
of the MD-80's Digital Flight Guidance System with very accurate MD-80
aircraft performance, and a full-U.S. database. Our POI approved it for
limited use in our training program about a year ago. Not only do our
pilots practice CRM/Crew Coordination skills, but they also polish their
skills with the actual equipment they will be using.
We've found that emulating the exact airplane (at least as far as
performance and flight guidance is concerned) is very effective. This
also enabled us to use the exact same LOFT scenarios that are used in
the simulator. However, if you are not an MD-80 operator, teaching the
MD-80's DFGS system would not be worth the time or effort, and would
undoubtedly be counter-productive. The Elite Jet is too aircraft
specific, and probably too complex for general CRM training, but MD-80
operators really should consider it.
For the bean counters: we estimate that we saved one CPT period and one
Simulator period for each pair of new-hire pilots by using the Elite
FTD. We initially bought two of the systems, and, based on the
simulator and instructor time saved, paid for them with the first pair
of students.
...
Would it be possible for some of the papers you referenced to be made
available to the group on the CRM Developer's website?
Mike Courtney