Why So Much Time Is Spent Training on Emergencies

The more complex the airplane, the more we train.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 12:14 PM ET

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Often failure to recognize an issue with aircraft performance can lead to an accident or incident. [File photo: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Emergency flight training is crucial for pilots to proactively manage inflight incidents by maintaining control, accurately identifying issues, and executing correct procedures, thereby turning potential emergencies into non-events.
Effective emergency response requires accurate knowledge of aircraft-specific systems and procedures from official manuals (POH/AFM), rather than anecdotal information, with realistic simulations aiding in precise issue identification.
Neglecting thorough emergency training, system knowledge, or prudent decision-making regarding aircraft performance and maintenance significantly increases the risk of accidents and compromises flight safety.

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“If flying is so safe, why does so much of the training focus on dealing with emergencies?”

CFIs hear this question frequently, often from the parents of a younger learner. The first time it happened to me, the learner was preparing for solo, and we had been practicing landings with a simulated loss of engine power per FAR 61.87. The learner told his father he had ‘practiced landings without the engine,’ and the dad naturally became concerned. The chief CFI explained we were following the FAA-approved syllabus, and we showed the parent FAR 61.87 and stressed the word ‘simulated’ in ‘simulated loss of engine power.’ Dad calmed down after that.