The Use of Flight Simulators in Measuring and Improving Training Effectiveness

The value of aircraft simulators as measures of training readiness are studied. Simulator evaluations are analyzed for reserve enlisted crewmen on Navy patrol aircraft. Part-time reservists are found to have very little skill loss over time and perform as well as their full-time counterparts. Experience in the simulator produces substantial increases in subsequent evaluation scores. Simulated flights appear to be useful measures of readiness and valuable training experience.