A General Aviation Flight Simulation Paradigm for the 21st Century 912096

Current civilian flight training programs are typically ill-prepared to train ab initio professional pilots for air carrier operations. While there are numerous problems associated with the typical civilian training program the proposed system addresses several of the training hardware related problems. This paper outlines a paradigm for future civilian flight training that is divided into two phases of implementation. Phase I relies on a system which combines the emerging technology of the heavily dependent software-driven Computer-Based flight Simulation (CBFS) and the more hardware dependent technology of Flight Training Devices (FTD). Current technology exists to implement this initial phase and only awaits manufacturer acceptance of the concept.

Phase II outlines the future of flight simulation based on the further refined CBFS system combined with the emerging technology of the highly sophisticated simulation capability of virtual reality (VR). This phase is dependent upon successful continuance of current research and development in the area of virtual reality. Most of the fundamental components of both phases currently exist in at least an unsophisticated prototype model. Implementation of a Phase II system could happen within the next ten years.