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Sky Kings: Are Pilots Losing Stick and Rudder Skills?

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Pilots must find a critical balance between proficiently using cockpit automation to manage workload and maintaining strong hand-flying ("stick and rudder") skills, as automation can fail or be unhelpful.
  • While automation enhances efficiency and situational awareness when mastered, over-reliance can lead to "automation bias" and reduced safety, especially during unexpected events or malfunctions.
  • Comprehensive pilot training is essential to develop both advanced automation management and fundamental physical flight control abilities, ensuring pilots can adapt to diverse situations and safely operate aircraft.
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“Don’t do that. Don’t ever do that,” my instructor said. I was confused. I wasn’t even sure I understood what his complaint was. But when I did, I realized the issue lay at the very heart of the debate about how to deal with cockpit automation.

I said, “Let’s talk about it on the ground.” And so we did — at length. The instructor was, in my opinion, absolutely right and absolutely wrong.

Martha King

Martha King and John King take turns writing Sky Kings. They have shared flying and teaching aviation for more than 50 years.

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