Readback: June 2018

Your article entitled Seriously Bad IFR Flight in the October 2017 issue is a perfect illustration of the problems caused by technology. Ive been a pilot for 49 years, Im ex-military with my ATP, CFII, and thousands of hours of flight time in everything from helicopters to jets to biplanes.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The author contends that modern, complex avionics systems, such as advanced GPS and glass panels, are mentally overloading pilots and making flying more difficult and dangerous.
This technological complexity disproportionately affects part-time or non-professional pilots who lack the extensive training and practice time required to maintain proficiency, leading some to crash or abandon aviation.
The article contrasts these complex systems with older, simpler analog instrumentation, which the author argues was more intuitive and allowed pilots to focus on fundamental aviating skills rather than intricate system programming.

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Automation is Killing Us

Your article entitled “Seriously Bad IFR Flight” in the October 2017 issue is a perfect illustration of the problems caused by technology. I’ve been a pilot for 49 years, I’m ex-military with my ATP, CFII, and thousands of hours of flight time in everything from helicopters to jets to biplanes.

I have a C129 GPS in my personal airplane and I like it. However the new GPS and glass panel systems are too complex; they’re killing pilots. The pilot in the article got to his destination and the fact that he made several approach attempts tells me that he could fly the airplane in IMC. His demise was way too much difficulty with his avionics. He could not get his panel set up correctly. I’m willing to bet that if this pilot had nothing more than a single VOR/LOC receiver with a glideslope he’d be alive and well today.