Recurrent flight training trends: A Delphi study to examine possible loss of piloting skills

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to ask aviation training experts to explore to what extent basic and fundamental piloting skills could be lost or degraded due to over-reliance on automation, and, what corrective action could the training community take to correct the problem. A Policy Delphi was conducted using a panel of 16 respondents drawn from three major aviation training facilities in north Texas. The study was limited to corporate level aircraft requiring a type rating to operate.

Findings and Conclusions: The respondents agreed that over-reliance on automation does exist. The migration of training doctrine from aircraft control to systems management was cited as a causal factor. Company training policies and Standard Operating Procedures driven by FAA testing philosophies were also cited as a factor. Respondents agreed that training philosophy should include automation, but not to the exclusion of hands-on flying requirements. They believed that training centers must improve the content of both initial and recurrent class syllabi to better present the capabilities and limitations of installed automation. Finally, they stated that the FAA should direct a common presentation of automated data similar to the basic six flight instrument presentation.