Using Relevant Time Clock Refresher Training for Improvement In Identifying Aviation Traffic

Abstract

It is common for Air Traffic Control to alert pilots of aircraft traffic using an analog clock metaphor (e.g., Traffic 1 o’clock). This study compared analog refresher training group to a digital refresher training group. Sixty private pilots were assigned to either an analog group or a digital group. Each of these groups were assigned to a Top of the hour refresher training condition or a Quarter of the hour refresher training condition. Participants flew a pretest flight scenario where they identified traffic, took the refresher training, then flew a posttest flight scenario. No differences were found between the analog refresher training group and the digital refresher training group. However, pilots who received Top of the hour clock refresher training identified traffic faster than pilots who received Quarter of the hour clock refresher training.