Effects of Performance Pressure on Learning During Recurrent Pilot Training

Recurrent training helps pilots maintain or upgrade their flying skills, however, performance pressure during training may reduce the effectiveness of recurrent training. To study the effects of performance pressure on pilot behaviour and learning, pilots (n = 17) holding an airline transport pilot licence and type rating for large multiengine aircraft were invited to a simulator experiment where they would learn a new autopilot system. The low-pressure group flew a series of training scenarios under no performance pressure whereas the high-pressure group flew the same training scenarios with prompts designed to induce performance pressure and raise their anxiety. The high-pressure group did in fact undergo training with a significantly higher state anxiety. This had no significant effect on their behaviour during training or their performance in a test scenario.