| infoWERK is pleased to announce the development of an Integrated Human Performance Awareness Training supported by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).
It will be a combined training, consisting of an interactive multimedia web based “Electronic Based Performance Training (EBPT)” complemented by practical training in the specialised motion based flight simulator AIRFOX® DISO of AMST Systemtechnik. The efficiency of the training chain – theory, EBPT, simulator training – will be evaluated by the Institute of Psychology of the Karl-Franzens University of Graz using established scientific methods.
Human factors still play a major role in accident statistics in General Aviation by over 80%. The majority of cases show that the pilots were confronted with external circumstances like low visibility, blurred horizon or other adverse weather situations incl. wind speeds and also spatial disorientation, which they have never experienced before and could never train.
According to regulations (JAR FCL) only theory lessons on the subject “human performance and limitations (HPL)” are required. Any complementary training by interactive CBT and specialized simulator training is not existent.
The student pilots generally are not aware of their own physiological and psychological limitations. Especially they are not aware of vestibular illusions and spatial disorientation phenomena which may lead to serious incidents if not recognized. There is a need to enhance the theoretical knowledge about such human performance limitations by means of special motion based flight simulator training in an environment close to reality. Such training widens the awareness level, and the student pilots learn how to cope with such situations.
The “Electronic Based Performance Training (EBPT)” will transfer the theoretical knowledge by means of an interactive web based CBT. The Electronic Performance Based Training (EBPT) builds the bridge to a specialized simulator training, trains the student to get out of such dangerous situations and stores the acquired skill in their procedural memory to have it down pat in case being needed in real flights.
Certain attention should be paid for the upcoming Very Light Jets (VLJs) as they are easy to fly but may be demanding for the pilots who will normally fly as “single pilot” when the aircraft operates in adverse weather situations (turbulences, thunderstorm, etc.) at high speed and especially in altitudes up to and above FL 250 additional work load is added by technical malfunction of autopilot and/or complex ATC-instructions to be followed. For pilots with low experience in instruments flying, especially those who have converted from non-pressurized single piston aircraft into the VLJ could easily be overstrained.
The combined training will have certain advantages:
-
Better quality of training increases flight safety (prevention of accidents)
-
Decrease of pollution (noise and carbon dioxide) by reducing real flight hours into the simulator
-
Training independent from time and location in case of EBPT
-
Training independent from time, weather and air traffic in case of simulator
The combined training aims at ab-initio pilots as well as at private and commercial pilots who are willing to increase their awareness level towards HPL and to increase their skill in escaping from such adverse and dangerous situations in flight. Also, recurrent training every two years would be required to keep the level of proficiency.
|
