Training Systems Engineering

I’ve just finished a 3 month contract within the Niteworks organisation. The 3 month contract to evaluate specific aspects of Fast Air virtual and constructive training was part of a larger Training Transformation project. Whilst I can’t say much about the conclusions and recommendations, I can say it was very challenging and rewarding. It’s a long time since I had to write such a long report in so little time and with only the help of one other person. However, lots of industrial engagement and UK MoD contact, will be interesting to watch the outcomes.
I did become more aware of, and interested in the application of Service Oriented Architectures. The words Service and Architecture continue to be debated, but still lack common understanding in the training and simulation community. This is a subject where Systems Thinking and Enterprise Engineering, and M&S Standards come together to deliver LVC training. There are already some very good papers on this subject so have created another page under Reference Documents and copied a few links.

I attended my first Royal Aeronautical Society Flight Simulation Group couple of weeks ago. Have always been keen to help out with all the outstanding work this group has achieved over the years and now with more time available it seemed an obvious move. It was good to meet up with some friends and meet some new people. You just have to be impressed with all the knowledge and experience sitting round the table, and for once I had keep my peace and listen; well it was my first meeting. However, I did volunteer to help with a 2012 conference on research and development in training. Sounds fun, you can just imagine all the serious games, latest hand held gismos, ray tracing, targeted fidelity and how to measure training effectiveness abstracts already.

(Did you know that if you Google “R&D training effectiveness” at the top of the hit list is a 1979 paper)

We were hosted at Burgess Hill by CAE Electronics, and very hospital it was too. (And a bit sentimental as I left this company just before they moved into the new building in 1997). We were given a tour around the Training Centre; impressive set up. As you can image some members could not resist a flight. I resisted, but did watch from the jump seat as two of the world leading authorities on motion systems “assessed” the motion during stalls etc. The debate was quite intense. All I remember though is being impressed with the fluffy clouds.

As we walked around I did wonder how Systems Thinking played a part in the design and development of a training centre. I’m sure that lots of traditional systems engineering went into the simulators, but how does the regulations, training need, instructors and students, fidelity standards and of course, the training management information system integrate together. I feel an OV1 coming on, perhaps even a presentation at a conference…….The Systems of Systems approach to Training Centres.