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In general, simulators are designed to imitate aspects of events, situations, or operations to forecast future effects, outcomes, or the cause of a past event. Simulators are useful tools because they provide an environment that is safe, cost effective, flexible, and realistic. Because of improvements in technology, simulators are able to closely resemble the look and feel of real-world operations and processes. This entry discusses the history of management flight simulators, how they are used in the modern business environment, their use as instructional tools, their impact on learning, and examples of management flight simulators.

Although simulators are used in a variety of disciplines, one of the earliest adopters of these tools was aviation. Beginning in 1929 with the development of the first ground-based flight simulator, the Link Trainer, aviation has continuously incorporated various types of flight simulators into education and training. Because the flight environment is very complex, ill defined, and consists of many uncontrollable variables, simulators have proven extremely beneficial in that they can replicate the complexities and uniqueness of the flight environment in a compressed period, allowing for reflection and experimentation with various strategies. During actual flight scenarios, there can be a lack of closeness between the actual decision and subsequent analysis and feedback. Because the feedback time can be greatly reduced in a simulation, the impact of assumptions, decision making, and problem resolution can be determined quickly and safely. This type of experiential learning environment can greatly enhance the learning opportunity for participants and expansion of their mental models.

Business Management Environment

Similarly, the business management environment has become increasingly more dynamic and complex. Management decision making was once developed through one’s steady progression via layers of management positions, but organizational structures are now becoming flatter, leading to the subsequent de-layering of management levels. These structural modifications greatly reduce the opportunities for managers to learn while progressing up the corporate ladder, thrusting them into decision-making roles much sooner. Knowledge and skills that were once acquired through years of experience now need to be obtained through other means.

Business management decision making is multifaceted. Technological advances and increasing interconnectivity have emphasized the need for managers to consider the dynamics of global events. Often, managers are facing novel situations and are forced to consider factors that are uncontrollable and unexpected, causing managerial choices to be far from trivial. Many decisions are made without the luxury of knowing the projected impact. Because of this, managers often bias their choices using past knowledge and experiences because of insufficient time to investigate new information and to avoid the risk of trying something unique.

Sound pilot decision making is essential to the safe completion of every flight. Every day pilots are responsible for operating aircraft in a highly unpredictable environment. Airlines would never consider placing a pilot into an operational environment without providing practical experience in a variety of complicated scenarios in flight simulators. These simulators enable pilots to evaluate available information regarding the flight environment and experience the effects of their decisions on the outcome of the flight. The use of simulation allows pilots to learn from their mistakes and determine better strategies for handling a multitude of situations. This type of experiential learning enables pilots to enhance their understanding and better predict the potential outcomes of their decisions.

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