Effectiveness of ab initio flight training using either linked or unlinked primary-axis flight controls

Twenty ab initio student pilots flew a series of simulated approaches in either a linked or unlinked primary flight control configuration. The results indicated that those pilots who performed the task in the unlinked configuration flew less smoothly than those in the linked condition and showed no evidence of skill acquisition. It is suggested that the physical linkage of the student's and instructor's primary flight controls is an important channel of communication that enhances skill development in trainee pilots.