Transfer of Training from Flight Training Devices to Flight for Ab-Initio Pilots

The application of flight simulation to meet pilot training needs continues to evolve. Flight simulations built with powerful and inexpensive computers are making high fidelity simulation available as a medium for training ab-initio pilots at Pilot Schools and Training Centers. The researchers conducted an 18-month study that applied an experimental flight-training curriculum comprised of 60% flight training device (FTD) flight and 40% airplane flight to certify Private Pilots under Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 142. The results from the research provided data to ascertain the effective transfer for each flight-training task. Ab-initio student pilots practiced each task to standard in an FTD prior to training in an actual airplane. The researchers measured a significant degree of effective transfer for the majority of flight tasks examined