Skip to main content

Greater Benefits To Be Gained From DOD Flight Simulators

FPCD-83-4 Published: Jan 14, 1983. Publicly Released: Jan 14, 1983.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's policy of using simulators whenever possible to reduce training costs and to improve training effectiveness.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should approve budget requests for flight simulators only after the services have analyzed their training needs and proven that the needs cannot be met with existing simulators. Specific review should be made of the pending purchase of an additional 2E6.
Closed – Not Implemented
According to DOD this is not necessary because: (1) the services analyze and review their training needs as part of the program and budget review process; (2) the simulator program is reviewed and updated yearly during the program cycle; and (3) all nonsimulator budget decisions are made subsequent to completion of program reviews.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should require the services to incorporate simulators into their training programs.
Closed – Not Implemented
DOD said that the recommendation is not necessary because the incorporation of simulators into the training program plan for pilots is an integral part of the DOD instructional systems development process and that each of the services has identified specific simulator training required for pilots. GAO will follow up on this recommendation in its review of the F-18 WTT program.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Cost effectiveness analysisDefense operationsFlight trainingMilitary trainingMilitary forcesAircraft acquisition programComputer assisted instructionAviationCommercial aviationProcurement