PC-based flight simulators are sometimes used as an alternative to traditional forms of instrument training. This type of training typically requires an instructor to be present with the student in order to facilitate training. Flight instructors play many important roles in aviation training, one of which is the role of mentor. The premise of this study was to examine the use of synchronous web-based instruction for instrument flight via Microsoft Flight Simulator’s (10.0) “shared-cockpit” feature, where the instructors serves as a mentor from a distance. The results indicate that web-based instruction is no more effective than practice without instruction. Although additional research is needed, the results are not encouraging for students looking to practice a specific instrument task that may not require instruction.
","abstract_html":"<p>PC-based flight simulators are sometimes used as an alternative to traditional forms of instrument training. This type of training typically requires an instructor to be present with the student in order to facilitate training. Flight instructors play many important roles in aviation training, one of which is the role of mentor. The premise of this study was to examine the use of synchronous web-based instruction for instrument flight via Microsoft Flight Simulator’s (10.0) “shared-cockpit” feature, where the instructors serves as a mentor from a distance. The results indicate that web-based instruction is no more effective than practice without instruction. Although additional research is needed, the results are not encouraging for students looking to practice a specific instrument task that may not require instruction.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Mendolia, Andrew S."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Human Factors & Systems","degree_level":"Thesis - Open Access","degree_discipline":"Human Factors and Systems","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Elizabeth L. Blickensderfer","Shawn Michael Doherty","Nickolas D. Macchiarella"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2007,"date_issued":"2007-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2007-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-27T19:26:08Z","subjects":["distance learning","instrument flight","virtual mentor","Aviation","Aviation and Space Education","Higher Education"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/144","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Elizabeth L. Blickensderfer","Shawn Michael Doherty","Nickolas D. Macchiarella"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Mendolia, Andrew S."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Human Factors and Systems"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - Open Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Human Factors & Systems"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["distance learning","instrument flight","virtual mentor","Aviation","Aviation and Space Education","Higher Education"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/144"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["PC-based flight simulators are sometimes used as an alternative to traditional forms of instrument training. This type of training typically requires an instructor to be present with the student in order to facilitate training. Flight instructors play many important roles in aviation training, one of which is the role of mentor. The premise of this study was to examine the use of synchronous web-based instruction for instrument flight via Microsoft Flight Simulator’s (10.0) “shared-cockpit” feature, where the instructors serves as a mentor from a distance. The results indicate that web-based instruction is no more effective than practice without instruction. Although additional research is needed, the results are not encouraging for students looking to practice a specific instrument task that may not require instruction.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Distance Learning for Instrument Flight: Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Virtual Mentor"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Elizabeth L. Blickensderfer","Shawn Michael Doherty","Nickolas D. Macchiarella"],"dc:creator":["Mendolia, Andrew S."],"dc:description.abstract":["PC-based flight simulators are sometimes used as an alternative to traditional forms of instrument training. This type of training typically requires an instructor to be present with the student in order to facilitate training. Flight instructors play many important roles in aviation training, one of which is the role of mentor. The premise of this study was to examine the use of synchronous web-based instruction for instrument flight via Microsoft Flight Simulator’s (10.0) “shared-cockpit” feature, where the instructors serves as a mentor from a distance. The results indicate that web-based instruction is no more effective than practice without instruction. Although additional research is needed, the results are not encouraging for students looking to practice a specific instrument task that may not require instruction.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/144"],"dc:subject":["distance learning","instrument flight","virtual mentor","Aviation","Aviation and Space Education","Higher Education"],"dc:title":["Distance Learning for Instrument Flight: Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Virtual Mentor"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Human Factors and Systems"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - Open Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Human Factors & Systems"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T19:26:08Z"}