Value-Focused Approach to the Training with Flight Simulators in the Brazilian Air Force
Date
Authors
Couto, Fernando Wilson Silva do
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This Thesis proposes a new approach for employing flight simulators in the Brazilian Air Force (BAF), and describes the benefits that could be obtained by adopting it. Until the time of this Thesis writing, the BAF's flight simulators have been used primarily, and almost exclusively, to help pilots in their learning program of a new aircraft during their operational formation. More specifically, simulators are used extensively in the initial missions of the new aircraft's learning program, facilitating the development of the basic piloting skills. However, after this initial period, the use of flight simulators decreases drastically. This happens because by the time they take the more advanced missions, pilots already acquired a substantial amount of piloting skills, and it is thus not possible to obtain the same gains they achieved in the beginning of the course. This stems from the doctrinal view for applying simulators the BAF had when it acquired its flight simulators, constrained by the capabilities of the equipment acquired. This Thesis brings an analysis of how the adoption of more advanced flight simulators, capable of reproducing the environment of more complex missions, would impact the operational capabilities of the BAF, specifically regarding the fighter pilots' readiness, and the long-term costs associated with the adoption of that equipment. To perform the analysis, a multiobjective value model was developed, with the purpose of quantifying and evaluating the benefits that could be achieved by the adoption of more modern flight simulators. The model was then used to support a comparison between adopting the proposed approach and maintaining the current one.
Description
Keywords
Flight simulators, Value-focused model, Brazilian Air Force, Simulation-based training, Fighter aviation training