Todays typical flight training curricula are largely maneuver-based, with little emphasis on higher order pilot skills, especially risk management. At its heart, the typical curriculum is designed to train a pilot to pass the practical test for the certificate or rating he or she seeks. A rare curriculum includes training to identify, assess and mitigate risk. 288
Training For Risk Management
Todays typical flight training curricula are largely maneuver-based, with little emphasis on higher order pilot skills, especially risk management. At its heart, the typical curriculum is designed to train a pilot to pass the practical test for the certificate or rating he or she seeks. A rare curriculum includes training to identify, assess and mitigate risk. In previous articles, Ive asserted the root cause of many accidents-and perhaps most fatal accidents-is poor risk management (Aviation Safety, July 2010, "TAA Training"). I also postulated better risk management training, especially in risk mitigation, could be an effective way to reduce these accidents (Aviation Safety, September 2010, "Train to Mitigate Risk").
Key Takeaways:
- Current flight training largely focuses on maneuvers and inadequately teaches higher-order pilot skills, especially risk management, which is identified as a root cause of many aviation accidents.
- Despite some FAA guidance materials, official testing standards (Practical Test Standards) do not fully integrate risk management, impeding its widespread adoption in flight training curricula.
- Achieving a significant reduction in general aviation fatal accidents requires comprehensive reform of the flight training system, including updated doctrine, revised testing standards, new curricula, and standardized instruction with a strong emphasis on risk management.
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