Examining an Improved Pilot Training Program for TCAS

Abstract

This paper discusses the development and evaluation of a training program intended to train pilots to understand Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) use for collision avoidance in the actual traffic and operational environment. The training program was developed using the integration of two training methods: Demonstration Based Training and Event Based Training. The impact of the training program was evaluated by comparing of two experiments examining pilot response to TCAS advisories in an aircraft simulator that incorporated the full context of an air traffic environment. Pilot participants were initially trained using the improved training program, and their performance was compared to the performance of baseline pilots who did not complete the training program. An analysis of pilot responses showed that overall the training program had a significant impact on the pilots’ behavior and response to TCAS advisories.