One of the challenges for Auxiliary Operational crews is maintaining their ready-state proficiency during periods between missions.

To address this age-old issue, the SPG has created a five-thousand-square-mile practice and training area in and around the Florida Keys, where multiple distressed target types have been embedded at known positions, allowing crews to select things like the weather and sea-state conditions while practicing search patterns or distress target scenarios they wish to experience.

While nothing will ever replace the experience gained during actual flight operations, research is underway to determine whether advanced flight simulation could help crews maintain perishable skills between flight assignments.

A place where crews can sign up for “Spring Training” at times that fit their schedules, without weather, daylight, or aircraft limitations, and without requiring mission orders or medical or FAA currency, while maintaining perishable skills between flight assignments or during temporary aircraft or personal downtimes.

As this flight simulation research enters the Evaluation phase, the SPG will need a small number of members to assess and critique the proposed scenarios and to provide researchers with perspectives and suggestions prior to general release.