Instructor Expertise Assessment With Normalized Flight Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing training methods for aircraft operators fail to consistently normalize teaching outcomes and performance across different aircraft configurations and instructor styles, leading to variability in student learning and potential safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that normalizes flight training outcomes by collecting and analyzing real-world flight data from aircraft systems and instructor-student pairs, using gamified performance measurements to identify instructor strengths and weaknesses, and adjusting pairings to optimize training effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional flight training methods are used with diverse aircraft configurations and instructor styles, then training flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but teaching outcomes and performance consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraining flexibilityVSAvoidteaching outcome consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameters of performance measurement by introducing normalized metrics that adjust for aircraft configuration variations and instructor styles. Flight data is collected and normalized against standardized criteria, transforming subjective training outcomes into objective, comparable parameters that maintain consistency across diverse training environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where flight performance data is collected, analyzed, and used to provide real-time assessments of both student and instructor performance. This feedback mechanism enables ongoing adjustment of training approaches to maintain consistent outcomes while preserving the flexibility of diverse teaching styles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If subjective evaluation methods are used to assess instructor and student performance, then evaluation simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision and objectivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevaluation simplicityVSAvoidperformance objectivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces subjective mechanical evaluation methods with automated digital measurement and analysis systems. Flight data from sensors, GPS, and communication systems is automatically collected, processed, and evaluated against standardized criteria, substituting human judgment with objective computational assessment to improve measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces flight data as an intermediary between the training process and performance evaluation. Objective flight parameters serve as a mediator that translates complex training interactions into measurable data, enabling precise and unbiased assessment of both student and instructor performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If instructors train multiple students simultaneously, then instructor productivity and workload efficiency are improved, but individual student learning quality and consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstructor workload efficiencyVSAvoidindividual learning quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides individualized feedback to each student based on their specific performance data, enabling tailored learning approaches even when multiple students are trained simultaneously. The feedback mechanism allows instructors to adjust their teaching to match each student's learning style and pace, maintaining individual learning quality while managing multiple students

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If real-world flight data collection and analysis systems are implemented, then training assessment objectivity is improved, but system complexity and data processing requirements deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment objectivityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves multi-functionality by using a single integrated platform that collects, stores, analyzes, and visualizes flight data from multiple sources. The unified system handles diverse data types (flight parameters, communication records, performance metrics) through standardized processing protocols, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive assessment capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250315770A1Pilot and instructor expertise

Publication Date: 2025.10.09 SLING PILOT ACADEMY

AI summary

Training a flight instructor via actual flights with students by way of collecting data of a specific student and specific instructor then collecting the aircraft's flight metrics data during the same flight. Providing the server the data and providing weather data of the flight date including at least a Meteorological Aerodrome report (METAR) via a network in signal communication. The training server generates normalized values for each raw student performance metric to reflect one or more of the student experience, time of day, weather, and aircraft systems functional data; and, the training server is configured to use the normalized values and generate for the flight at least one of a numerical value for the specific one of a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and Nth student with 1st instructor performance a numerical value for the 1st instructor overall performance.