High Fidelity Simulation and Aviation Training to Improve Problem Solving Skills and Coordination

The Flight Operations Center – Unified Simulation (FOCUS) lab was created in 2010 to break down the “barrier” between aerospace concentrations at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and address several aspects of teamwork in aviation. While participating in the FOCUS lab’s high-fidelity simulations, teams of senior undergraduate aerospace students work together to solve complex and real-world scenarios, which helps improve each student’s coordination, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills. Each team’s performance in the FOCUS lab’s simulations is evaluated by the FOCUS lab research team and discussed at the team’s After Action Review (AAR) to determine how the team can improve its performance in the next simulation. Overall, the FOCUS lab helps prepare all undergraduate aerospace students at MTSU for working in the aviation industry