Low Altitude Simulator Training: A-10 Aircraft.

Abstract : Simulator scenarios were developed to train student pilots in A-10 aircraft low level navigation (LLN) and elementary basic attack maneuvers (BAMs). The primary objective of this effort was to evaluate the effectiveness of these scenarios using the A-10 configured Advanced Simulator for Pilot Training (ASPT) as the training medium. Training effectiveness was assessed using simulator automated performance measures and instructor pilot (IP) evaluations of student aircraft performances in a transfer paradigm. There were 42 subjects in the BAM phase of the experiment and 36 subjects in the LLN phase. Simulator measures showed enhanced performance as a function of training for three of the five BAM tasks trained; LLN simulator performance data were not analyzed due to difficulty with the automated scoring procedures. Power values determined for aircraft performance measures and inferences based on the results of similar efforts made questionable the validity of using IP performance evaluations for test purposes as was done in this experiment. Discussion is directed toward future test programs requiring assessment of pilot performances in tactical aircraft. (Author)