The mantra “train the way you fly and fly the way you train” has been popular recently, yet we continue training pilots merely to pass the knowledge and practical tests, rather than on how they will operate in the real world. These tests emphasize rote knowledge and performance of specific maneuvers, rather than instructive scenarios emphasizing higher order pilot skills. This results in a pilots all-too-frequent failure to properly manage the risks inherent in typical general aviation 288
Will Training Reform Help Reduce Fatals?
The mantra "train the way you fly and fly the way you train" has been popular recently, yet we continue training pilots merely to pass the knowledge and practical tests, rather than on how they will operate in the real world. These tests emphasize rote knowledge and performance of specific maneuvers, rather than instructive scenarios emphasizing higher order pilot skills. This results in a pilots all-too-frequent failure to properly manage the risks inherent in typical general aviation flight operations. In an effort to bring focus to these issues and chart a course for beginning the reform process, the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) conducted a Pilot Training Reform Symposium in Atlanta, Ga., on May 4-5, 2011.
Key Takeaways:
- Current pilot training prioritizes rote knowledge and test-specific maneuvers over real-world operational skills and risk management, contributing to safety issues in general aviation.
- Comprehensive reform is required across doctrine, standards, curricula, and flight instructor training to integrate scenario-based instruction and emphasize higher-order pilot skills like risk management and mitigation.
- The article advocates for a shift towards student-centered, scenario-based training, effective use of simulation, and reforming recurrent training (like flight reviews) to improve safety for both new and existing pilots.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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