The argument is an old one: Can we teach judgment to pilots, or is the aviation industry left to simply search for pilots who already possess solid problem-solving skills? I’ve always thought the answer was somewhere in between, especially since FAA examiners like to ask applicants questions based on scenarios those pilots might encounter later in their flying lives. The new Airmen Certification Standards also focus specifically on scenarios in determining pilot competency. And, to some extent, good judgment is based on making mistakes, errors that are often based on bad judgment, at least initially.
Can We Teach Judgment to Pilots?
Key Takeaways:
- Aviation judgment can be developed through scenario-based learning and by openly discussing real-world mistakes, as suggested by FAA standards and club interactions.
- A pilot candidly shared a harrowing experience of inadvertently flying Visual Flight Rules (VFR) into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) due to poor pre-flight judgment when trying to beat an approaching snowstorm.
- This shared incident highlighted critical lessons for the pilot—including the importance of filing IFR, practicing instrument skills, and managing distractions—and served as a valuable, shared learning experience for all attending pilots.
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