ATC simulation for flight training:The missing link

This paper presents the state of piloted flight simulation fidelity with a focus on the missing link needed to complete the flight simulation experience,namely the simulated ATC environment(SATCE).To date,there has been a great deal of effort invested in providing the highest level of flight realism possible.However,little investment has gone into systems which are used to improve communication skills with ATC while in a populated active airspace.It is important to note that the relatively few SATCEs is not due to the lack of technology,since such products have been available for about a decade.The primary reason for its absence is the inability and unwillingness for operators to justify the investment in such a training tool.In the meantime,the aviation industry has recognized that pilots need to have better communication skills while operating in various conditions.Consequently ICAO,with help from ARINC Industry Activities/FSEMC,has already taken steps to recommend the inclusion of SATCE characteristics in flight simulation devices.The aviation and research communities need to assist efforts by producing the necessary studies and metrics which can be used to evaluate and validate SATCEs used in the flight training.

Hazardous Attitude Factors Influence Risk Perception in General Aviation Pilots

This manuscript presents a research proposal to investigate how hazardous attitudes among general aviation pilots influence pilot performance in aviation accidents. General aviation pilots train to maintain safe flying conditions, but accidents still occur, and human factors figure prominently among the causes of aviation accidents. The levels of hazardous attitudes among pilots may influence the likelihood of engaging in risky flight behaviors that can lead to accidents. This quantitative study aims to determine whether dangerous attitudes impact risk perception in general aviation pilots. The study will focus on two specific hazardous attitudes, “Anti-Authority” and Macho” behaviors. Among the hazardous attitudes identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the two attitudes often stand out in accident investigations and pilot narratives. While all hazardous attitudes have inherent dangers, these two attitudes tend to be more frequently cited in accident reports and investigations. Despite rigorous training in safe flying conditions, general aviation accidents still transpire due to human factors. This research hypothesizes that the five attitudes from the hazardous attitude model, particularly Anti-Authority and Macho, significantly shape pilots’ risk perception. The insights from this study would benefit stakeholders, like the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Air Safety Institute, and aviation training programs, in creating training modules tailored to reduce such attitudes.