Technological Change and Individual Competencies: The Influence of Glass‐cockpit Aircraft on French Air Force Pilots Training and Skills

Abstract

This article investigates the influence of introducing new generation aircraft to the training of Air Force pilots. New generation aircraft (Cirrus SR20 and Pilatus PC-21), equipped with novel capabilities (glass cockpit and embedded training), represent a technological disruption that is likely to affect the nature and diversity of pilots' competencies, and more globally the learning process that leads to their development. Building on past research projects that the authors conducted for the benefit of Air Force Staff and Pilot Training Schools, the article first shows that the new functionalities offered by next generation aircraft are not neutral in regards to how future pilots develop fundamental technical skills (“the basics”) during the initial stages of the training process. Secondly, it identifies the conditions enabling a consistent exploitation of embedded simulation techniques for training pilots.