Do Ya Feel Lucky?

According to the FAA, flight training has changed very little since the dawn of regulated aviation. In fact, a private pilot trained to standards outlined in the Civil Aeronautics Regulations, circa the 1940s, would likely do quite well in most operations required by todays practical test. This is because many of the basic skills needed to pilot an aircraft have changed very little. However, the development of new technologies and a rapidly evolving airspace system have outpaced current training methods. Moreover, the FAA and the flight training community now have over a centurys worth of experience upon which to draw when determining how best to train pilots. While the military and airline communities have leveraged this experience, the general aviation community has been slow to make use of the lessons learned.

Key Takeaways:

• "Luck" in aviation is defined not by chance, but by a pilot's professionalism, attention to detail, situational awareness, and overall skill set.
• General aviation (GA) flight training standards are largely outdated, having changed little since the 1940s, failing to adapt to new technologies and lessons learned unlike military and airline training.
• The root causes of most fatal GA accidents are a lack of situational awareness and poor aeronautical decision-making, areas currently underemphasized in training which focuses more on mechanical "stick and rudder" skills.
• Pilots are encouraged to proactively pursue continuous training and practice specific critical skills to enhance their decision-making and awareness, thereby taking responsibility for their own safety and "making their own luck."

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