Objective assessment of pilot aptitude using flight simulator performance metrics in aviation training

This study examines whether objective performance metrics derived from flight simulator data can be used to support the assessment of pilot aptitude during the early stages of flight training. Performance data were collected from three consecutive cohorts of ab initio pilot trainees using a standardized simulator-based task designed to capture basic aspects of manual flight control. Objective flight parameters, including altitude deviation, heading deviation, and bank angle stability, were extracted and analysed to characterise piloting accuracy and flight stability. Composite performance indicators were explored using correlation analysis, regression modelling and unsupervised. k-means clustering in order to identify patterns of manual flying proficiency. The results indicate an association between simulator-based performance and subsequent early practical flight training outcomes, with composite T-SIM scores showing a moderate to high correlation with Flight Training Evaluation results (r ≈ 0.70). Cluster analysis further identified separable performance profiles corresponding to different levels of flight control stability. Overall, the findings suggest that objective simulator-derived metrics may offer a useful, repeatable, and transparent complement to instructor-based evaluation for the assessment of psychomotor aspects of early-stage flight-control performance in early training contexts.