Why So Much Time Is Spent Training on Emergencies

The more complex the airplane, the more we train.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 12:14 PM ET

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Often failure to recognize an issue with aircraft performance can lead to an accident or incident. [File photo: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Emergency procedures training is a fundamental and mandatory aspect of aviation, designed to equip pilots with the ability to maintain control, identify issues, and take prompt, correct action during unexpected events to ensure safety.
Effective emergency training emphasizes realistic simulations and requires pilots to thoroughly understand aircraft systems and memorize official procedures from the POH/AFM, rather than relying on misleading assumptions or incorrect "tribal knowledge."
A lack of proper emergency training, insufficient systems knowledge, poor performance calculations, or hazardous attitudes can lead to critical misjudgments and preventable accidents, underscoring the vital importance of preparedness for all pilots.

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“If flying is so safe, why does so much of the training focus on dealing with emergencies?”

CFIs hear this question frequently, often from the parents of a younger learner. The first time it happened to me, the learner was preparing for solo, and we had been practicing landings with a simulated loss of engine power per FAR 61.87. The learner told his father he had ‘practiced landings without the engine,’ and the dad naturally became concerned. The chief CFI explained we were following the FAA-approved syllabus, and we showed the parent FAR 61.87 and stressed the word ‘simulated’ in ‘simulated loss of engine power.’ Dad calmed down after that.