Pilot training must evolve to meet the airline industry’s changing needs, with a greater emphasis on pilot decision making and an acknowledgement of the growing importance of data-driven solutions, industry specialists say.
In presentations to the World Aviation Training Conference and Trade Show (WATS 2016), held in Orlando, Florida, U.S., in April, training specialists said a shift in the focus of pilot training could help prevent accidents by improving flying and decision-making skills, especially during critical phases of flight, and attract people to become first officers at a time when the supply of potential newcomers has dwindled.
“Poor decision making” is a common reference point in many accident reports, Capt. David Owens, senior director of flight crew training policy for Airbus, told the conference, adding that, through training, it is possible to improve decision-making skills.
Owens listed eight methods of decision making — trial and error, analytic, balance sh…
