Electronic flight bags contain most of our planning and operating documents, but an overreliance on them can erode the skills that allow us to navigate or manually compute weight and balance. Avionics can accomplish many necessary flight tasks, but they can also lull us into neglecting our manual skills, which require practice to maintain. Technology is here to stay, but we mustn’t lose our proficiency in basic aviation skills. All flight training pro- grams should seek a healthy balance between teaching how to use technology and how to hand-fly the aircraft.
What if Your Tech Fails? Some newer pilots may find they’re proficient in technol- ogy but not in basic flying skills. If the equipment does something unexpected or malfunctions, they may find it difficult to control their air- craft, leading to potentially dire consequences. Building your ability to seamlessly switch from automated flying to hand-flying is an essential skill for pilots. Maintaining that skill requires recurrent practice and realistic, scenar- io-based training. Self-assessment is critical to this pro- cess in determining the manual skills you need to incorporate into your training sessions.
essential hand-flying skills as well as making the transi- tion from automated flying.
Maintenance Training We often forget the maintenance side when thinking of our training needs, but producing high-tech aircraft has also changed the way we maintain those aircraft. Technicians now have to train in equipment-specific, computer-based systems that often differ from aircraft to aircraft. Gone are the days of simply checking the ship for mechanical integrity. Training in and managing technology are major factors
in maintaining airworthy aircraft. Most aircraft makers now provide training in new technology; it’s crucial tech- nicians seek this training to maintain their aircraft effi- ciently, effectively, and safely.
Building your ability to seamlessly switch from automated flying to hand- flying is an essential skill for pilots.
Remember, tech- nology is a tool. We can use it carelessly, without attention to our surroundings and competing demands. Or we can use it responsi-
bly, safely, and effectively, with discipline, self-assess- ment, and proper training to proficiency. Make the responsible choice.
Train for Realistic Conditions Aircraft technology is constantly evolving. Training in how to use it should be as well. Initial aircraft-specific training should be designed to match the experience level of the student as well as the mission to be performed. For example, a pilot with many hours in a Bell 206 who changes to an EC145 will require more training time than a BK 117 pilot making the same move, even though both involve going from an analog to a digital cockpit. Because the EC145 is based on a BK 117 variant, the
BK 117 pilot will learn the same basic aircraft but now with a digital cockpit and advanced technology. In addi- tion to a digital cockpit, however, the 206 pilot needs to learn a totally different aircraft and twin-engine proce- dures. The amount of time needed to train to proficiency for the two pilots can vary significantly. Take advantage of simulator training for its ability to
safely administer effective, realistic scenario-based train- ing. Most new aircraft have simulators available at the OEM’s training centers and/or commercial training pro- viders. Ask the training facility for scenarios that include technological failures, so you can practice those
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