Recovery Training in Simulator Improves Performance and Psychophysiological State of Pilots During Simulated and Real Visual Flight Rules Flight

This study evaluated an anticipation-based training program for private pilots to recover from unusual flight attitudes, stalls, and spins using visual reference cues. Flight performance, psychophysiological measures of cardiac and electrodermal activity, and subjective measures of workload and emotion were collected from 33 pilots during simulated and real flight. The results demonstrate positive training effects of anticipation-based training in real and simulated flight to improve performance and to change patterns of psychophysiological arousal, workload, and emotion in pilots.