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Aviation History
1993
1993 - 0033.PDF
prefers, a dotted-line or ribbon diagram of a manoeuvre can be shown in a small box on the screen while a computer-generated, animated image of a T-45 demonstrates the manoeuvre from either the pilot's perspec tive, an overhead view or a third-person side view. Navigation can be taught by showing an overhead view of the chart in a small box while the appearance of the actual course over the terrain is demonstrated with an animated image. Weather lessons not only show what various meteorological conditions are, but also what they will look like from the cockpit as a pilot flies through them. AIRCRAFT ON A STICK The computer-generated graphics and video-disk animation are a great leap for ward from the static overhead-displays, slides, and the two aircraft on sticks which instructors use to present information and teach manoeuvres. In fact, some of the more generic portions of the T-45's electronic curriculum are being presented to T-2 and TA-4 students, as well, because the presen tation is so much more effective. From the electronic classroom, students will move to individual computer work stations to study systems, information and manoeuvres through interactive computer lessons. Sections on cockpit systems, for example, re quire the student to identify appropriate levers and switches using a computer "mouse". Most lessons also include multiple-choice questions which the stu dents must answer correctly before they can proceed to the next one. Students can make pro gress at their own rate, re peating lessons as many times as they want, but they have to complete each les son successfully before they can move on to the next section in the curriculum. Tests will also be admini stered through the work stations, with the results being calculated automati cally and logged in the stu dent's record. "We thought that taking computer exams might be a problem for stu dents," says Larry Maloy, who is an instructional sys tems development specialist for McDonnell Douglas Training Systems, "but we found that students these days are already used to working with computers, and they're very comfortable with the system." Another significant advantage to the com puter-based classrooms and workstations is that curriculum material can be updated easily. The site at Kingsville includes a training support centre which can produce new computer graphics and video disks and re-programme software as necessary. The final component of the T45TS is the TIS, which tracks not only test results, but also each student's individual lesson pro gress, simulator and flight performance. The TIS will also perform all simulator, class room and flight scheduling. The system still has some bugs in it, but Navy personnel expect them to be worked out well before T-45 classes begin. At the moment, the biggest headache for the McDonnell Douglas and Navy represen tatives responsible for installing and imple menting the T-45 ground-training system is "configuration management", according to Nelson. Each time the configuration of the T-45A is modified, those changes must be integrated into both the curriculum materi als and the simulators. Nonetheless, the Navy believes that the end result will be well worth the headaches. With increasingly restrictive budgets, the service is faced with the tough challenge of maintaining, and even upgrading, the qual ity of the training it provides while signifi cantly improving the cost-effectiveness of its operations. All the changes under way in the training command — the transition to the USS Forrestal, the introduction of the T-45A and the development of an inte grated, computer-based ground-training sys tem to support the new aircraft — are designed to meet that challenge. By expanding its role from a day/visual- flight-rules training command carrier to a floating classroom which has the capability of providing day/night and all-weather training for all fleet aircraft, the Navy has ensured that the Forrestal will be able to make much more efficient use of the periods it spends at sea. While there is still some debate as to whether the T-45TS will produce better pilots, the system should train them more cost-effectively. "In the budget-conscious mood of the country, we have a moral obligation to do things economically, and [the T-45] will give us more efficiently trained pilots," states Rausch. The actual effectiveness of all these changes remains to be seen. Both the JPATS competition and the Air Force's new T-l tanker/transport trainer programme are in corporating computer-based, integrated ground-training systems, however, indicat ing that the T-45TS may very well be a model for the flight-training programmes of the future. D The Naval T-45 underwent major redesign, making it very different from the basic BAe Hawk FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 6 - 12 January, 1993 31
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