Inadequate crew resource management (CRM) behaviors are still cited as causal factors in most military and commercial aircraft mishaps despite mandatory CRM training in virtually all aviator training programs, suggesting a need to explore alternative approaches. A low-cost, PC-based simulator was designed to elicit the communication and crew coordination behaviors associated with instrument and visual airdrop missions. These targeted behaviors were frequently addressed in instructor comments from earlier C-130 student training records, especially for navigators and copilots. The effectiveness of instruction using this device was evaluated. Treatment group students received a four hour training profile before their first airdrop flight while control group students did not. Multiple measures of effectiveness were tracked. Instructors and students rated training effectiveness using 5-point Likert scales. Ratings from both groups were significantly greater than "3" (neutral) for task management, communication, and crew coordination. In addition, instructors reported that the experience was a good use of instructor and student time. Detailed CRM proficiency data were collected during the first subsequent airdrop flight. Positive transfer of training was substantiated by a multivariate analysis of variance. CRM performance ratings during this flight were significantly higher for treatment group students than their for control group peers. Higher performance grades in training records were also observed for treatment group students in all CRM skill areas through subsequent flights, with fewer sorties to criterion for communication, crew coordination, task management, and decision making for both navigators and copilots.

Empirical CRM training effectiveness data are rare. This paper addresses the effectiveness of instruction using a PC-based simulator to develop teamwork skills and provides a template for measuring "soft skills" in operational environments using a combination of focused, study-specific data collection instruments and existing student training records. Each provided unique insights regarding benefits and limitations of PC-based CRM training.