Cockpit Challenge - Calling all CFI's

Hello CFI's,

If you have used Cockpit Challenge to introduce your students to the discipline of Instrument Scanning, please let us know. If you think Cockpit Challenge is a useful training tool, please post a positive review on the iTunes Store. Your positive review will help us get the message out there and help us grow.

If you have suggestions for how to improve Cockpit Challenge, please post a comment on this blog, or send me an email at cdjohns@gmail.com.

We hope you are enjoying Cockpit Challenge!

Chuck

Cockpit Challenge - Scoring Strategy

The scoring system in Cockpit Challenge is designed to emphasize the need for proper instrument scanning. You will score the best by keeping the airplane level. As you deviate from level, your rate of scoring reduces. However, if you deviate from level by more than 5 degrees, you will begin to lose points. The more you deviate, the more points you lose. So, it is very important to not let yourself be overly distracted by the alerts.

You also score points for servicing alerts in the correct priority order. You will lose points if you try to service an alert out of order. But again, servicing alerts should not come at the expense of level flight. You must scan back and forth between the attitude indicator (bank indicator) and the alerts in order to fly level and service the alerts. Having said all that, you must service the alerts. If you try to just fly level and ignore the alerts, you will ultimately lose significant points.

The best strategy is one where you fly level and methodically check your level flight, check the alert priority, check your level flight, service 1 alert, check your level flight, etc.

When the training session first starts, you start with the attitude indicator and keeping yourself level. When the alerts are raised, your first job is to assess the priority scheme. This is based on the red arrow indicators and possibly the indicator block at the bottom of the screen. If the majority of the arrows point up, the priority order is increasing (1, 3, 4, etc.), otherwise it is decreasing. If the indicator block lights up, you must check to see if there are more indicators lights on the top or bottom. If there are more indicators on the top, this represents an up arrow and should be used in conjunction with the other arrows to determine the priority order.

You must service the red alerts first (in proper priority order), then the yellow alerts, then the green alerts. You must service all the alerts within 30 seconds (or else your score will suffer). This gives you plenty of time to keep your instrument scan going and not get overly concerned with the speed of dealing with the alerts.

Remain calm and fly the airplane.

Cockpit Challenge - Is it a game or a training aid?

Look Pilots...it’s a game...it’s a training aid...it’s Cockpit Challenge!!!

Cockpit Challenge is a game that will test your ability to focus and react under pressure.  Try to keep the airplane level while you deal with emergencies in the cockpit. React to the emergencies, but don’t forget to fly the airplane. You will score best if you can keep the airplane level through the stress of distractions.

Cockpit Challenge is not only a game, it is also a simple and unique training aid designed to help pilots develop superior Cockpit Resource Management skills. Today's sophisticated cockpits demand excellent instrument scanning skills. This trainer will enhance your skills. Test and compare your skills against other professional pilot scores.

Cockpit Challenge is designed by an ATP rated flight instructor with over 25 years of experience teaching other pilots how to deal with emergencies in the cockpit. One of the biggest problems in the cockpit is the lack of good Cockpit Resource Management (the ability to manage your tasks effectively under stressful and time critical situations). Even experienced pilots can fall into the trap of becoming overly fixated on one alert or another, and ultimately may forget to fly the airplane.

You must properly balance your attention between tasks. The more level you fly, the more points you score. The more alerts your handle, the more points you score. But don’t forget to fly the plane! If your attention strays from the attitude indicator too long, you will deviate from level, and you will lose points.

The free version of the Cockpit Challenge gives you full access to both the Practice and Beginner Training Sessions. You also be able to see the high scores from others. However, you will need to Upgrade to advanced mode and play the “Advanced Training Session” to be able to post your score.

The Advanced Mode upgrade of Cockpit Challenge (available for purchase in the game) gives you access to the more challenging “Advanced” training session. Plus, you will be able to post your high score online for other pilots to see. In addition, the Advanced mode includes the Flight Analysis capability that allows you to visualize your performance after the training session is complete.

Note: Cockpit Challenge is not a flight simulator. Please don’t expect a flight simulator. However, we believe Cockpit Challenge is a fun and useful training aid that will allow you to improve your Cockpit Resource Management skills, while also having fun competing against other pilot’s scores.

Welcome to Cockpit Challenge!

Cockpit Challenge is an iPhone App (and iPod Touch) that is both a game and a training aid for pilots. The game presents the pilot with the challenge of dividing attention between keeping the plane level, while also dealing with complex emergencies in the cockpit.

In this blog, we will keep you posted on the latest enhancements to Cockpit Challenge. We will also post suggestions on how to improve your score, and how to best use this app as a learning tool to improve your basic cockpit management skills.