The Conference will bring together a wide variety of experts to describe advances in digital media technology and social networks, and will discuss the implications for flight simulation and training. The flight simulation industry has always embraced new innovative technologies to improve simulation and training. These new products and services, made possible by converging technologies such as those found in smart phones, tablets and other hand held devices, as well as multi-media technologies can change the way we create simulations, learn, deliver training content and interact with each other.

This Conference will examine the implications of such developments in the context of flight simulation, flight crew training and aircraft maintenance training, including issues such as modelling and simulation, serious gaming, integration and synergy with traditional training devices (e.g. flight simulator), learning content accessibility (e.g. delivery via services and hand-held devices), instructional techniques, validation and accreditation of courseware and regulatory issues.

The Conference committee recognises that this is a broad subject and welcomes papers covering novel and innovative applications, lessons learned and how new technology offers a way of changing the way in which simulations and training can be delivered. The convergence of digital technology, normally associated with the integration of information technology, telecommunications, consumer electronics and gaming technology, underpinned by a service oriented architecture offers the potential to change how industry provides product and how the users specify requirements.

There is no doubt that digital consumer technologies and social networks will continue to have a huge impact on how flight crews operate, how they are trained, and how that training is controlled, delivered, validated and assessed.