The expanding role of lower fidelity simulation technologies in aviation training

This paper describes the basic approach used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to classify the various levels of simulation devices used for training and certifying pilots within the airline industry. It also discusses these devices in terms of the differing types of training and evaluation (certification) activities most appropriate to each. Because of the similarities between the aviation and nuclear power industries (government regulation, safety orientation, high-technology operations, team performance, etc.) many of the training and evaluation concepts utilized by the aviation industry should generalize well to the nuclear power industry. This paper also discusses the projects in progress at the FAA to accommodate the use of lower levels of simulation fidelity in training and evaluation applications. It concludes with a discussion of the human factors issues that currently limit more effective utilization of the current inventory of FAA approved devices.