Published: 2001
Total Pages: 48
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"The U.S. Army uses the 2B24 Synthetic Flight Training System (SFTS) for the Instrument Phase of Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) training. The SFTS is an instrument simulator, mounted on a hydraulic motion platform, with no visual system. Its technology dates from the late 1960s. Its cockpit represents the UH-1, which has been replaced by the TH-67 training helicopter. The Army is concerned with the age, complexity and costs of the SFTS, at a time when PC- based simulators, like the Frasca 342 Primary Skills Trainer (PST) are available. The PST's cockpit represents the TH-67 helicopter. It has a visual display, but no motion system. Thirty-eight IEAW students were assigned to experimental (PST) or control (SFTS) groups. After 30 hr of simulator training, both groups completed 20 hr training in the TH-67. No students were eliminated or set back to later classes. Few significant differences in performance were noted, though SFTS trainees were more likely to indicate that training in the simulator had hindered performance in the aircraft. The PST seemed inferior to the SFTS in trim control. The research demonstrated that IERW students could learn instrument skills in a simpler, more economical simulator without hydraulic controls or a motion system."--DTIC.