DYNAMIC FLIGHT SIMULATORS - THE ONGOING PARADIGM IN TRAINING HIGH PERFORMANCE PILOTS

Dynamic flight simulators are the pinnacle of science quest to establish a pilot training device that is as real as possible. A brief history of the science involved explain things like: realism, perceptual threshold, motion illusions, G excess, etc. Method: A literature review of the current state of the art in flight simulation for specific sensorial training. Details are presented on various motion platforms (fixed with angular motion, rotary, centrifuge mounted, 6 doff (degrees of freedom)) and their advantages and disadvantages. The focus is on advanced performance pilots. Our personal experience with a 3 doff rotary device is summarized. Our device training focus was on spatial disorientation and the main profiles of motion illusions are detailed (leans, somatogyral, Coriolis). Visual illusions are mentioned but not included in the results due to simulation limits. Results: Personal inference over the efficiency of the training regarding understanding, fixation and compensatory skills by reviewing relevant published data and personal experience with the 3 dof device. In our experience, from 355 pilots who attended the training, 79.72% perceived the training as useful. From the responders that did not appreciate the training, 90.28% were rotary wing pilots. Leans and Coriolis illusion had the most impact. While Coriolis is an easy illusion to demonstrate (a Barany chair usually suffice), Leans requires advanced equipment and profile tuning research. Reasons for perceived training inefficiency is detailed. Personal recommendations on future training paradigm are given. Conclusion: There is not yet a perfect flight training device. Good results maybe obtain with even the simplest of devices, providing the team is willing and able to trim the software according to individual and group needs.