Optimizing Simulator-Aircraft Mix for U.S. Army Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training

Early fixed wing research demonstrated that potential cost and training benefits could be derived from simulation-augmented primary flight training. Unfortunately, more recent research in this area has been the exception, not the rule. This is especially true in the case of rotary wing (helicopter) aircrew training research. The present report reviewed the research literature on military aviation transfer of training (TOT) research, and examined the current U.S. Army Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) Program of Instruction. An in-depth review was also conducted on the recent IERW simulation research performed by the Army Research Institute (ARI) Rotary Wing Aviation Research Unit (RWARU). Review of the IERW TOT research showed that a combination of synthetic flight simulation and criterion-based training had the potential for saving training time and costs in the aircraft. Adaptive training aids such as the ARI RWARU Intelligent Flight Trainer, also showed promise. A research program, focusing on revising the current IERW program to optimize the use of simulation, was proposed. This program would include (a) criterion-based instructional strategies, (b) low cost simulation, and (c) investigation of different combinations of simulator vs. aircraft training events, in order to determine the optimal simulator/aircraft training "mix".