Simulation technology has already transformed airline training, virtually eliminating the expensive and potentially hazardous practice of using the aircraft itself as the classroom. Instead, airlines have invested heavily in training centres filled with the latest in synthetic training technology, from computer-aided classrooms to full-flight simulators. Now it is Internet-based distance learning which has caught the industry's attention as a way to expand and improve training. It allows pilots to fulfil classroom commitments wherever and whenever they want.
In theory, a pilot could log on from home or a hotel and become familiar with an aircraft's flight management system (FMS), for example, at his own pace over the Internet. "A year ago there was no interest from airlines; now there is a lot," says Steve Wilson, executive vice-president commercial simulation and training at simulator giant CAE in Montreal.
What particularly interests the airlines is the potential to avoid heavy investment in classrooms and training devices, while improving the effectiveness of expensive full-flight simulators. "We conservatively estimate you can take half of ground school and move it to distance learning," Wilson says.
CAE has launched a major initiative to develop "simulation-based" distance learning. This does more than simply make traditional classroom computer-based training (CBT) available over the Internet, says Kamilia Sofia, product director, commercial flight simulation. Rather, it harnesses the power of a full-flight simulation and makes it available in real time over the web to the pilot's personal computer.
"Full flight in a box", as CAE describes its system, provides training that is interactive, rather than canned, says Sofia. Even delivered over the Internet, "CBT is still page-turning, going through rigid lessons", she says.
Simulation-based distance learning allows pilots to choose between guided or "free play" sessions and to take training at their own time and pace. "Studies show self-paced training absorption is better, "Sofia says.
For airlines, the attraction of distance learning lies in its potential to reduce costs. Providing 24-hour Internet access to ground school training from anywhere in the world promises to cut travel costs, free up pilot time and - what Sofia calls "the big issue" - increase training system throughput.
"With the current shortage of pilots, there is an advantage to providing flexible training that fits in with pilot schedules, wherever they are," says Wilson. CAE predicts that simulation-based distance learning will completely replace classroom CBT and eliminate the need for devices other than full-flight simulators.
Today, airlines use desktop trainers, flight-training devices and even fixed-based simulators to familiarise pilots with the operation of aircraft systems. In the future, CAE believes, the training system will have just two elements: distance learning and full-flight simulators. "The rest will fade away," Wilson says.
To achieve that goal, CAE believes distance learning has to be simulation-based to provide a seamless transfer of training. "This is not reverse-engineered full-flight software. It is full-flight software running on a PC. You do not get negative training," Wilson says.
PC power and web bandwidth is at the point where a pilot can run a simulation, interact, make mistakes and see the results, all in real time. "Airlines tell us this will revolutionise training," he adds.
Maintenance training
With technicians also in extremely short supply, maintenance training is another area expected to benefit from distance learning. And there is the added potential that its use could be extended to actual maintenance operations by linking the simulation with aircraft data and documentation. "This is potentially great for troubleshooting," says Wilson.
CAE plans to offer simulation-based distance learning as a service hosted either on a customer airline's own intranet, or to multiple users over the Internet via a company-run website.
Specific airlines are being targeted as launch customers and particular aircraft for applications, but the company has an "aggressive schedule" for rolling out the service to a wider audience.
So far, the Canadian manufacturer has demonstrated single-user Internet access to a Boeing 737 systems simulation running in real time on a PC, but the challenge is to run multiple simulations simultaneously. "There is a lot of development required to allow multi-user delivery on the web, to monitor usage and to meet service quality requirements," says Wilson. "It will not be cheap, but it gives the industry a way to move forward."
Source: Airline Business
