The Effectiveness of a PC-Based C-130 Crew Resource Management Aircrew Training Device

Inadequate crew resource management (CRM) behaviors are still cited as causal factors in most military and commercial aircraft mishaps despite mandatory CRM training in virtually all aviator training programs, suggesting a need to explore alternative approaches. A low-cost, PC-based simulator was designed to elicit the communication and crew coordination behaviors associated with instrument and visual airdrop missions. These targeted behaviors were frequently addressed in instructor comments from earlier C-130 student training records, especially for navigators and copilots. The effectiveness of instruction using this device was evaluated. Treatment group students received a four hour training profile before their first airdrop flight while control group students did not. Multiple measures of effectiveness were tracked. Instructors and students rated training effectiveness using 5-point Likert scales. Ratings from both groups were significantly greater than 3 (neutral) for task management, communication, and crew coordination. In addition, instructors reported that the experience was a good use of instructor and student time. Detailed CRM proficiency data were collected during the first subsequent airdrop flight. Positive transfer of training was substantiated by a multivariate analysis of variance. CRM performance ratings during this flight were significantly higher for treatment group students than for their control group peers. Higher performance grades in training records were also observed for treatment group students in all CRM skill areas through subsequent flights, with fewer sorties to criterion for communication, crew coordination, task management, and decision making for both navigators and copilots. Presented at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), held in Orlando, FL, on 4-7 Dec 2006. Published in the Proceedings of the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), paper no. 2807, 2006. Prepared in collaboration with Anacapa Sciences, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA, and Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX. Prepared in cooperation with Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, TX.