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Flight School: Teaching Automation

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Autopilots are valuable risk management tools that enhance situational awareness and reduce pilot workload, freeing pilots to focus on other critical flight management tasks.
  • Autopilot introduction into flight training should be strategic, occurring only after pilots have mastered fundamental hand-flying skills and can control the aircraft without conscious attention.
  • A graduated approach is recommended, starting with basic autopilot functions in private pilot training and progressively integrating it for high-workload phases in instrument training, while always emphasizing a thorough understanding of its operation.
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At what point should an autopilot be introduced into flight training?

Martha King has helped make aviation knowledge more accessible to pilots worldwide by combining elegant technology with clear, fun teaching. Martha holds every category and class of FAA rating on her pilot certificate, and every flight and ground instructor certificate. Her company, King Schools, also provides the curricula for more than 275 Cessna Pilot Centers. She says:

Pia Bergqvist

Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

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