Training Pilots for Unexpected Events

Training Pilots for Unexpected Events: A Simulator Study on the Advantage of Unpredictable and Variable Scenarios

Landman, H.M. (TU Delft Control & Simulation; TNO)
van Oorschot, P. (TU Delft Aerospace Engineering)
van Paassen, M.M. (TU Delft Control & Simulation)
Groen, Eric L.
Bronkhorst, Adelbert W. (TNO)
Mulder, Max (TU Delft Control & Operations; TU Delft Control & Simulation)

Aerospace Engineering

Control & Operations

2018-09-01

Objective: This study tested whether simulator-based training of pilot responses to unexpected or novel events can be improved by including unpredictability and variability in training scenarios. Background: Current regulations allow for highly predictable and invariable training, which may not be sufficient to prepare pilots for unexpected or novel situations in-flight. Training for surprise will become mandatory in the near future. Method: Using an aircraft model largely unfamiliar to the participants, one group of 10 pilots (the unpredictable and variable [U/V] group) practiced responses to controllability issues in a relatively U/V manner. A control group of another 10 pilots practiced the same failures in a highly predictable and invariable manner. After the practice, performance of all pilots was tested in a surprise scenario, in which the pilots had to apply the learned knowledge. To control for surprise habituation and familiarization with the controls, two control tests were included. Results: Whereas the U/V group required more time than the control group to identify failures during the practice, the results indicated superior understanding and performance in the U/V group as compared to the control group in the surprise test. There were no significant differences between the groups in surprise or performance in the control tests. Conclusion: Given the results, we conclude that organizing pilot training in a more U/V way improves transfer of training to unexpected situations in-flight. Application: The outcomes suggest that the inclusion of U/V simulator training scenarios is important when training pilots for unexpected situations.

flight simulation
mental models
startle
surprise
training

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:17b4ed03-8c09-4224-8e73-9b3b464e4dd5

https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720818779928

0018-7208

Human Factors: the journal of the human factors and ergonomics society, 60 (6), 793-805

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2018 H.M. Landman, P. van Oorschot, M.M. van Paassen, Eric L. Groen, Adelbert W. Bronkhorst, Max Mulder