Flight School in the Virtual Environment: Capabilities and Risks of Executing a Simulations-Based Flight Training Program

Based on the current unsustainable defense budget and impending reductions, the Aviation Branch must develop a plan now to prevent a deterioration of flight skills among aviators when budget reductions can potentially decrease flight training hours. Simulators'; realism has improved exponentially since the 1970s due to the integration and advancement of computer technology. Army Aviation currently relies on the use of simulators to augment actual aircraft flight training in both the operating and generating forces. Analysis on the use of simulators specifically during the first two flying stages of the Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) phase of Flight School XXI (FSXXI), provide leaders the insight into how to reduce aviation operating costs while maintaining or improving aviators'; ability to perform in the operating force. Using current doctrine, learning theories, including transfer of training, and experiments relating simulator performance to aircraft performance, analysis determines that the current flight simulators used at FSXXI can train aviators to execute flight tasks to standard while saving costs. However, questions remain and researchers must conduct further experiments to develop empirical evidence relating directly to the capacity for simulations based primary and instruments to provide aviators of the same quality as the current training program to the operating force, and any associated risks incurred.