What Stops Pilots from Training Like Elite Athletes? – SM4 Safety News from Global Aerospace

Every pilot is cool, calm and confident when it’s VFR with the autopilot on and an airplane functioning flawlessly. What happens when one or more of these factors change; possibly inadvertent IFR or an unexpected mechanical malfunction?

Suddenly, a new version of that same pilot emerges. The transition from confident to chaotic happens quickly, and only through dedicated training to countering this physiological, startle reaction can any pilot overcome it.

Simulators and the Lack of Startle Response
Traditional pilot training does not adequately address unanticipated challenges to the point where it elicits the startle response. Specifically, simulators do not prepare pilots to face the body’s involuntary fight or flight adrenaline spike, and most importantly, how to work through process-driven emergency procedures while under duress. Without this stimulus and practice countering it, loss of control inflight will remain the number one cause of fatalities in aviation.

Upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) is the only proven method to prepare pilots to successfully address complex scenarios in moments of high stress. UPRT takes place in a controlled, airborne, crawl-walk-run training methodology that starts with classroom-based academics and culminates with airborne maneuvers designed to teach students how to implement process-driven emergency procedures.

UPRT and SOF
This UPRT methodology is not unique to the aviation industry. It is the same method utilized by U.S. Navy SEALs and other high-performing special operations forces (SOF).

These units’ prowess and success on the battlefield is not attained through training for best-case scenarios, sunny weather and flawless equipment. It is achieved through a strong focus on the fundamentals, training to worst case scenarios, repetition and creating training scenarios that elicit startle responses in a controlled environment that successfully mitigates the risk of mishaps.

Our nation’s SOF warriors’ training…