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Beware of Aviation ‘Tribal Knowledge’

Shared understanding within a group is often institutional memory, lacks documentation, and is passed down by word of mouth.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, March 04, 2025 at 11:53 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

Tribal knowledge, as a rule, is often institutional memory and lacks documentation. [Credit: Wayman Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Aviation, particularly VFR flight operations and pilot training, is significantly impacted by "tribal knowledge"—undocumented, word-of-mouth procedures that lead to inconsistent practices.
This reliance on informal knowledge creates safety concerns, as exemplified by varied and potentially dangerous "teardrop entry" methods, and highlights a strong need for formal, standardized guidance from the FAA.
Factors like high CFI turnover, revenue focus in flight schools, and lack of required syllabi (especially in Part 61 operations) perpetuate the use of tribal knowledge over documented, consistent training methods.

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Recently, I had discussions with other CFIs about “teardrop entry into the pattern,” which can be controversial for VFR pilots. Some vilify the practice, or express a desire for the FAA to produce guidance.

At the risk of sounding alarmist, I will not be surprised if there is a midair attributed to the “teardrop entry.” There are too many pilot-imposed variations out there right now, many attributed to “tribal knowledge” of how to do the entry into the pattern.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.