Will Training Reform Help Reduce Fatals?

The mantra "train the way you fly and fly the way you train" has been popular recently, yet we continue training pilots merely to pass the knowledge and practical tests, rather than on how they will operate in the real world. These tests emphasize rote knowledge and performance of specific maneuvers, rather than instructive scenarios emphasizing higher order pilot skills. This results in a pilots all-too-frequent failure to properly manage the risks inherent in typical general aviation flight operations. In an effort to bring focus to these issues and chart a course for beginning the reform process, the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) conducted a Pilot Training Reform Symposium in Atlanta, Ga., on May 4-5, 2011.

Key Takeaways:

• Current pilot training inadequately prepares pilots for real-world operations by emphasizing rote knowledge and test maneuvers over higher-order skills like risk management, contributing to safety issues in general aviation.
• Effective reform necessitates systemic changes across FAA doctrine, testing standards, and curricula to integrate scenario-based training and robust risk management principles for both initial and recurrent pilot education.
• Improving flight instructor quality and shifting recurrent training (like flight reviews) to focus on practical risk mitigation scenarios are crucial steps to enhance safety for the existing pilot population.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

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