It wasn't until simple-to-use multimedia software tools became available, and Personal Computers (PCs) gained a sufficient amount of computing power, that the viability of using PCs for producing and administering self-paced academic courseware sophisticated enough for training pilots became a reality. Such courseware developed for PCs prior to this time, was little more than the old 35mm slide presentation, only with audio narration instead of a stand-up instructor. Unfortunately, with the powerful multimedia PC tools available today, design and implementation of computer-based, self-administered pilot training courseware has not evolved much past a page-turning affair. As a result, the term CBT (Computer Based Training) has gained a bad reputation in the pilot training world rather than the high tech connotation its name implies.
Boeing entered the world of CBT pilot training courseware in 1989 for its commercial airplane pilot training requirements. They have since evolved the development process and courseware effectiveness, which culminated with pilot training CBT courseware for the 777. This courseware is so dynamic and interactive, that 777 pilot trainees are continually amazed at how the drudgery of the ground school portion (the academics) of learning a new airplane has been made into such an enjoyable, yet effective, learning experience.
The techniques learned in Boeing's Commercial Airplane Group are being incorporated into the F-22 academic courseware for both pilot training and the training of airplane maintainers. This paper shows the benefits of self-administered CBT academics for pilot training when the courseware is designed to the strengths of PCs and multimedia software. It also details the philosophy, rules, and techniques to use for making CBT an effective training tool, not only for academics, but also for testing. For testing, it describes how CBT is used to test a student's knowledge and understanding of a subject by using a real-life, interactive, operational format as opposed to a multiple choice, knowledge-only type format.