The evaluation of product and process for in-flight decision-making training

Abstract

Forty-One male pilots from ROC Air Force Tactical Training Wings participated in the study. The flying experience of participants was between 354 and 220 hours with an average of 292 hours. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, 21 pilots in the experimental group, and 20 pilots in control group. Two ADM mnemonic methods, SHOR and DESIDE, that had been previously been assessed by instructor pilots as being the most applicable and having the potential to significantly improve the quality of military pilots’ decision-making formed the basis of the ADM training programs. Overall, results from both the simulator-based trials (which assessed the product of the ADM training programme) and the pencil-and-paper tests (which assessed the process that the trainees applied) showed gains being made in both Situation Assessment and Risk Management skills attributable to the decision making training course. The results strongly suggest that such a short training course can be effective in terms of improving pilots’ skill in situation assessment and risk management. However, these gains were at the cost of a decreased speed of responding. Nevertheless, it is suggested that a simple, short, cost-effective training program in the appropriate use of ADM mnemonic methods may ultimately produce significant gains in flight safety. Such a course may easily be integrated into current CRM or simulator-based training programs.