Evaluating the effectiveness of flight simulator training on developing perceptual-motor skills among flight cadets: a pilot study

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of flight simulator training on the enhancement of perceptual-motor skills among flight cadets. Perceptual-motor skills act as a crucial link through which pilots translate their environmental perceptions into precise maneuvers, a capability that is particularly vital in dynamic and unpredictable flight environments. A total of forty cadets participated in the experiment and were randomly assigned to either the Traditional Training Group (TTG) or the Efficient Training Group (ETG). The TTG received individual training on training aircraft under the supervision of an instructor, while the ETG trained on expert aircraft using a full-scenario memory replay training system enhanced with multimodal information feedback. The simulations were conducted at the Aeronautical University simulation laboratory, configured as a self-developed Flight Skill Accelerated Training Simulator. Both groups completed eight weeks of simulated flight training, which included testing scenarios such as takeoff, flight control, landing, and carrier landing. Results indicated that the ETG outperformed the TTG in the takeoff, flight control, landing tasks, and carrier landing tasks. Furthermore, the ETG demonstrated a faster training pace across all tasks. These findings suggest that our independently developed accelerated flight skills training system can effectively expedite motor skill acquisition among flight cadets, enhance flight performance, and holds promising potential for broad application in various flight training contexts.