Gender Differences and Cognitive Abilities in the Transfer of Training of Basic Flying Skills

Abstract

Eighteen Air Force Academy cadets, ten males and eight females, participated in an experiment designed to investigate gender differences in the retention of basic flying skills, and the transfer of training between several basic instrument maneuvers. Additionally, the utility of several cognitive factors in predicting flying performance was investigated. The results indicated that males and females maintain basic instrument flying skills approximately equally well over an intervening period as long as one year. Additionally, gender differences in transfer of training may result from different abilities required by the specific maneuvers as opposed to failure to transfer previously learned skills. Finally, certain cognitive measures exhibit definite utility in predicting flying performance.