For military aircrew, being able to mentally rehearse each flying sortie is an essential form of preparation. Armchair flying, also known as mental simulation, is a technique that uses visualization and imagery to help pilots prepare for their flights. By practicing and visualizing each flight in detail, pilots can improve their performance and reduce the chances of errors and mistakes. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of armchair flying and provide practical advice for flying training students using Anders Ericsson’s five principles of deliberate practice and Collins and Macnamara’s PETTLEP mnemonic.

Armchair flying is a form of mental simulation that involves visualizing each step of a flight. This technique can help pilots prepare for a wide range of scenarios, from routine flights to emergency situations. By using their imagination to simulate each flight, pilots can improve their ability to handle real-life situations with greater ease and confidence.

Anders Ericsson, a renowned expert on expertise, has identified five principles of deliberate practice that are relevant to armchair flying. These principles include setting specific goals, focusing on the task at hand, receiving immediate feedback, continuously pushing oneself to improve, and building up mental representations. These principles can be applied to armchair flying in the following ways:

1. Set Specific Goals: Before beginning the mental simulation, pilots should set specific goals for what they want to achieve during the flight. For example, they may want to practice a specific maneuver or emergency procedure. By setting specific goals, pilots can focus their attention and efforts on the areas that need improvement.
2. Focus on the Task at Hand: During the mental simulation, it is important to focus on the task at hand and avoid distractions. Pilots should try to simulate the flight as realistically as possible, imagining the sights, sounds, and sensations of each maneuver. By focusing on the task at hand, pilots can build up mental representations that will help them perform better in real-life situations.
3. Receive Immediate Feedback: After each mental simulation, pilots should review their performance and identify areas that need improvement. They can do this by comparing their mental simulation to actual flight data, or by working with a coach or mentor who can provide feedback. By receiving immediate feedback, pilots can make adjustments and improve their performance more quickly.
4. Continuously Push Oneself to Improve: Pilots should constantly challenge themselves to improve their mental simulations. This may involve increasing the complexity of the scenarios, practicing under different conditions, or setting more challenging goals. By continuously pushing themselves to improve, pilots can build up mental representations that are more accurate and effective.
5. Build up Mental Representations: Finally, pilots should focus on building up accurate and detailed mental representations of each flight scenario. This involves using their imagination to simulate the sights, sounds, and sensations of each maneuver, and practicing until the mental representation is as accurate as possible. By building up detailed mental representations, pilots can improve their ability to handle real-life situations with greater ease and confidence.

In addition to Ericsson’s principles, Collins and Macnamara’s PETTLEP mnemonic can also be useful for pilots practicing armchair flying. PETTLEP stands for Physical, Environment, Task, Timing, Learning, Emotion, and Perspective. Each of these elements can be incorporated into mental simulations to make them more realistic and effective.

Physical: When practicing armchair flying, it is essential to create a physical environment that closely mimics the experience of flying. This means sitting in a chair as you would in the cockpit and moving your hands as if you were on the controls. Additionally, it is important to move your head exactly as you would when looking out of the canopy. If possible, replicate the real scenario of flying as much as possible. Although wearing your helmet, oxygen mask, life-saver jacket (LSJ) and anti-G suit may not be practical, you can still wear your flying suit, boots, and gloves. It is also recommended to make use of cockpit simulators whenever available.

Environment: The environment in which you practice armchair flying is crucial to the effectiveness of the technique. To fully immerse yourself in the experience, it is essential to imagine the noise of the aircraft, the radio transmissions, and the sound of your breathing in the oxygen mask. You should also imagine the weight of your harness, your LSJ, and the constriction of your anti-G suit. By doing so, you will be better able to feel the G-force as you manoeuvre the aircraft and your body pressing down into the seat.

Task: When practicing armchair flying, it is essential to recreate the task completely. Do not omit certain aspects in a misplaced endeavour to focus on pure handling. For example, complete the pre-aerobatic checks and routine engine and instrument checks. Lookout for other aircraft and be mindful of the aircraft’s direction and position in space. By doing so, you will be better prepared for any situation that may arise when you are flying in real life.

Timing: The timing of your armchair flying practice should be the same as it is for real. This means not rushing through or inching along. If necessary, use a clock and consider real-life issues such as fuel burn and mission timeline. Cadence is a powerful memory tool, so establish a beat to your checks and the lead-up to a manoeuvre, like singing along to a song. However, it is essential not to try to armchair fly a whole sortie from start to finish in real-time. Split the flight up into individual elements and run through each as a separate exercise. The shorter the segments of the profile, the easier they will be to repeat.

Learning: Armchair flying is a powerful tool for learning and rehearsal. If you make mistakes while armchair flying, it is likely you would have made them in the air. Therefore, it is essential to identify the cause of any mistakes and amend your actions. Rehearsal and learning are not mutually exclusive, and by identifying mistakes and correcting them during armchair flying, you will be better prepared for the real thing.

Emotion: One of the essential aspects of armchair flying is to imagine the emotions you feel when flying with an examiner in the cockpit behind you. Try to recreate the nerves, the excitement, and any uncertainty you feel when being assessed. As you are aware, mental capacity seems to drain away as soon as the helmet goes on and the engine roars. Therefore, building these emotions into your practice will help you deal with them on the day itself.

Perspective: Finally, it is essential to mix up perspectives when practicing armchair flying. While it is natural to visualize the situation as if through your own eyes, it can also be useful to picture the aircraft from an external perspective. For example, imagine what your wingman would see during formation or picture the ground track the aircraft takes during a particular aerobatic manoeuvre. By mixing perspectives during armchair flying, you will be better prepared for any situation that may arise when you are flying in real life.