EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTIONS OF TRAINING TIME ON THE ACQUISITION OF CONTACT FLYING SKILLS

As costs rise in general aviation, many private pilots are forced to reduce the rates at which they fly, both during training and after certification, in order to spread out expenses. This report describes the results of the first phase of a two and one-half year study designed to study the impact on pilot performance of reductions in the rates at which student and private pilots fly. The major objective of the first phase of the study was to determine the impact of different rates of flying during private pilot training on the effectiveness and efficiency of instruction. The second phase of the study, which was still in progress when this report was written, will assess the impact of differenced in the rates of flying before and after certification on the retention of flight skills after certification. In general, it was found that different rates of flying during training had no significant influence on overall instructional effectiveness. The different rates did have a significant, practical impact on instructional efficiency. Students whose flying was spread out more (i.e., distributed) tended to fly fewer flight hours, particularly dual hours with their instructors, than students whose training was more concentrated. In response to questions on an opinion survey, students in the concentrated flying program indicated that they felt their training was more harried and that it distracted them more from their jobs. They were also less confident and less positive toward their flight training.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ., Daytona Beach, FL.
• Corporate Authors:

  Seville Research Corporation

  Pensacola, FL  United States 

  Federal Aviation Administration

  William J. Hughes Technical Center, Airport Technology Research and Development Branch
  Atlantic City International Airport
  Atlantic City, NJ  United States  08405
• Authors:
  • Shelnutt, J B
  • Spears, W D
  • Prophet, W W
• Publication Date: 1981-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 156 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pilots; Economic efficiency; Flight; Flight training; Motor skills; Property acquisition; Rates; Time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Acquisition; Efficiency; Instructions
• Old TRIS Terms: Retention psychology
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Economics; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00346006
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: SEVILLE-TR-81-07, FAA-CT-81-76
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FA79NA-6040
• Files: NTIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 29 2003 12:00AM