With the advent of advanced, highly automated cockpits in current transport category jet aircraft, pilots no longer fly solely by reference to raw data from airplane instruments, and as a result, their basic instrument flying skills may have diminished.
In a study designed to assess their instrument flying skills, 30 airline pilots were asked to perform five basic instrument maneuvers without using automation. In addition, the pilots were questioned about their perceptions of their own instrument skill levels. Analysis of the findings revealed that, although the pilots believed that they retained a high degree of skill, all of the flight maneuvers were performed at levels below those required for U.S. airline transport pilot (ATP) certification.
Previous studies have found that opportunities for pilots to practice and maintain their skills decrease significantly over time, in part because of airline policies, advanced automation and increased long haul flying. In addition, a 1998 rep…
