Effects of Ground Trainer Use on the Psychological and Physiological States of Students in Private Pilot Training

Civil Aerospace Medical Institute1976PDFTech ReportSmith, R.C.Melton, C.E.Civil Aerospace Medical InstituteUnited StatesAir pilotsStudentsTrainingPhysiological aspectsStress (Physiology)AnxietyFlight trainingInstructorsHeart rateTraining simulatorsPrivate flyingHuman subject testingAir pilotsStudents--TrainingStress (Physiology)AnxietyHeart beatFlight trainingFlight simulatorsTeachersPrivate flyingDOT/FAA/AM-76/2Student pilots receiving all instruction in an aircraft and student pilots who received a portion of their flight training in a ground trainer were compared in terms of flying proficiency, psychological (anxiety) states during training, and certain physiological measures. Pilot performance appeared to be equal in both groups, as measured by objective ratings and check-pilot observations. There was no evidence that student pilot anxiety was differentially influenced by these two training procedures, although anxiety did vary as a function of the type of flight (dual, solo, evaluation). There were some trends in the physiological data to suggest slightly more favorable conditions in the ground trainer. No contraindications to ground trainer use were evident.119