Using Displays to Improve Training: Functional Aviation Displays Improve Novice Piloting Knowledge

Abstract

Twenty novices were trained on either a conventional Cessna display or a functional flight display over 6 flight sessions in an Elite iGATE flight simulator. Between flight sessions, participants completed concept maps of the system state changes required to perform specific maneuvers. When compared to expert concept maps, novices trained on a functional flight display showed significantly greater agreement than novices trained on a conventional display. This indicates that novices exposed to functional displays in training have an improved conceptual understanding of system dynamics, as well as a more accurate understanding of proper system operation.