Training Benefits of Java-Based Part Task Trainers: Lessons Learned from MH-60S/MH-60R Helicopter Training

The US Navy's PMA-205 in conjunction with Stottler Henke has re-designed and re-implemented the partial task trainer (PTT) for the common cockpit of the new MH-60S and MH 60R helicopters. The tool, called the operator machine interface assistant (OMIA), is an expandable, easily modifiable low-cost PC-hosted desktop crew trainer. OMIA-JAVA is currently in use for training at HSC-3 and HSM-41 at NAS North Island and HSC-2 at Norfolk NAS; and is continuing to evolve to match the changing helicopters. OMIA is now implemented in Java and can be run on NMCI (Navy/Marine Corps Intranet) computers. This new implementation allows the software to have all the benefits of a 'portableapp', and a Web-based application. OMIA-Java can be delivered as a Java Web-start application or users can download a simple zip file. The contents of the zip file are extracted and then the product can be run directly on the user's computer without any further installation or administrator privileges (aka a 'portableapp'). This allows the software to run on any Windows machine that already has a Java virtual machine installed, such as standard NMCI computers. This also allows OMIA-Java to run from external USB "thumb drives". Formerly, OMIA was used in dedicated classrooms and on personal machines. In both cases, administrator access was required to install OMIA. However, most aviators have access to NMCI computers everywhere they go so this is the most convenient platform to deliver to. Many training solutions have utilized a web-based solution to provide ubiquitous access, but many applications suffer performance problems because they're running over the web. This paper demonstrates the benefits of developing training or other software in the same manner as OMIA is developed so that it is easily available and efficient; as well as describes some of the most recent advances to OMIA. Another major benefit of recasting OMIA as a Java program is the relative ease of creating and modifying user interfaces to match the evolving helicopter interface. Code reuse was also an influencing factor as the latest version of OMIA-JAVA needed to be client/server based and Stottler Henke already had an extensible body of code to provide this functionality as part of the SimVentive product. So in less than six months a new version of OMIA-Java was created that matches the current interfaces of the helicopters while supporting all of the original OMIA-functionality that took several years to develop.