Does anyone know of any research that addresses the learning styles of
experienced aviators?
Does anyone know of an airline that used research findings on pilot
learning styles (ab initio or experienced) to shape their training program
delivery methods?
Does anyone know of research that addresses whether pilots learn technical
skills differently than they learn resource management skills?
My own experience suggests that pilots, particularly experienced pilots, do
learn these differently but I would like to see data if they exist. In my
job as a T-38 Instructor Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Reserves, we use
training methods for our ab initio students that would never work with
experienced pilots. Having also just finished the 767 training program
for a major airline, I can't help but think we are missing some excellent
opportunities to adjust our delivery methods to yield better pilot
learning.
It occurred to me while flying back from Seattle last night that the reason
METHODS is the least developed of the four basic training building blocks*
in the CRM community is because little is known about the learning styles
of seasoned aviation professionals. How can we build the most effective
training methods if we do not understand how pilots learn. I reviewed my
libarary as well as the current Air Carrier Training Research Review from
AFS-100 dated May 1998 and could not find any research on experienced pilot
learning styles.
A solid understanding of the way experienced pilots learn would seem to be
a fundamental building block of any training methods development effort.
In the past, I have stated my strong belief that the science of training
has been grossly underrepresented in air carrier CRM. Could this be an
example of where training research should be used to create fundamental
understanding that could guide training methods development?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and/or citations,
Vince
*(Content, Structure, Methods, Devices)