Self-controlled concurrent feedback facilitates the learning of the final approach phase in a fixed-base flight simulator.
OBJECTIVE
This study (a) compares the effectiveness of different types of feedback for novices who learn to land a virtual aircraft in a fixed-base flight simulator and (b) analyzes the informational variables that learners come to use after practice.


BACKGROUND
An extensive body of research exists concerning the informational variables that allow successful landing. In contrast, few studies have examined how the attention of pilots can be directed toward these sources of information.


METHODS
In this study, 15 participants were asked to land a virtual Cessna 172 on 245 trials while trying to follow the glide-slope area as accurately as possible. Three groups of participants practiced under different feedback conditions: with self-controlled concurrent feedback (the self-controlled group), with imposed concurrent feedback (the yoked group), or without concurrent feedback (the control group).


RESULTS
The self-controlled group outperformed the yoked group, which in turn outperformed the control group. Removing or manipulating specific sources of information during transfer tests had different effects for different individuals. However, removing the cockpit from the visual scene had a detrimental effect on the performance of the majority of the participants.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-controlled concurrent feedback helps learners to more quickly attune to the informational variables that allow them to control the aircraft during the approach phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge concerning feedback schedules can be used for the design of optimal practice methods for student pilots, and knowledge about the informational variables used by expert performers has implications for the design of cockpits and runways that facilitate the detection of these variables.
Huet
Michaël
M
Michaël Huet, Université de la Méditerranée et CNRS, Marseille, France.
Jacobs
David M
DM
Camachon
Cyril
C
Goulon
Cedric
C
Montagne
Gilles
G
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001359:Aviation / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007721:Knowledge of Results, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D014163:Transfer, Psychology; D014584:User-Computer Interface