Spatial Ability as a Predictor of Flight Training Performance

Abstract

Spatial ability has been demonstrated to be related to performance of a variety of tasks including several military enlisted jobs and piloting aircraft. This paper examined the relationship between performance on spatial ability task (i.e., the Mental Rotation Test) and flight training performance for 1,939 United States Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) candidates. Performance on the Mental Rotation Test was not related to completion of training, but was related to a recommendation for specialized training after UPT. Pilot candidates who made quick, consistent, and accurate judgements were more likely to be recommended for fast-jet training (Fighter-Attack-Reconnaissance or FAR). This was consistent with the current practice of selecting the best-performing student pilots for follow-on training in FAR aircraft. Keywords: Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT); Basic Attributes Tests (BAT); Cognitive perceptual abilities; Flight training performance; Mental rotation test; Pilot selection; Spatial ability.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA183141

Entities

People

  • Thomas R. Carretta

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Factor Analysis
  • Flight Training
  • Information Processing
  • Judgment
  • Mental Processes
  • Personnel Management
  • Pilots
  • Psychology
  • Reconnaissance
  • Regression Analysis
  • Security
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Education

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.