“Be careful out there. These kids will try to kill ya,” my instructor said to me after he signed me off for my multi-engine instructor (MEI) checkride. Having just completed my own series of engines-out training and seeing my own reaction, I understood what he meant about how unsuspecting our human nature is.
Didn’t Mean to Startle You
Key Takeaways:
- Pilots, even experienced ones, frequently experience "startle and confusion" during unexpected in-flight emergencies, leading to delayed or inappropriate reactions that can result in accidents.
- "Startle" is an inescapable, automatic human reflex that impairs cognitive function and promotes instinctive, often incorrect, responses during perceived threats.
- To mitigate the effects of startle, pilots should prioritize slowing down to assess situations before reacting, and training must incorporate more extensive, scenario-based emergency and upset recovery simulations beyond minimum requirements.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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