Flygsimulatorer av typen BITD (Basic Instrument Training Device – Grundläggande instrumentträningsstation) som hjälpmedel i utbildning av piloter

Sammanfattning: The Swedish Armed Forces’ Flying School has been training future pilots for a long time. For almost 60 years, the SK 60 aircraft (SAAB 105) has been used to train fixed-wing pilots. The Flying School has a flight simulator of type BITD (Basic Instrument Training Device), named FlightBook, as a tool to help students practise their flying and to learn through experience. Experiential learning is used in various kinds of education, one of which is flying training. David A. Kolb has developed a learning cycle that explains the process of experiential learning. The learning cycle starts with concrete experience followed by reflective observation, abstract conceptualization and active experimentation. This study analyses FlightBook using Kolb’s learning cycle to see if it is appropriate for use in flying training. The results of this study show that FlightBook is an effective tool for practising some elements of flying training. FlightBook is necessary for emergency training because of the high risk and it being impossible to conduct some of the training during actual flying. For landing an aircraft, FlightBook is not as suitable as it is for emergency training but is still an effective tool for the initial steps, prior to the final stage. For the final stage, when the aircraft is getting close to the runway, FlightBook does not have the credibility that flying instructors and students wish it had. In real flying, pilots use feel and balance to get things right before landing, which is not possible with FlightBook. Experience gained when practising with FlightBook is essential for future pilots so that the training can continue to be as effective as possible. Otherwise the training may be even more delayed and that will cause problems for the Swedish Armed Forces.