Any pilot is cool, calm and confident when it’s VFR with the autopilot on and a properly functioning aircraft. what happens if one or more of these factors change; possibly accidental IFR or an unexpected mechanical malfunction?
Suddenly, a new version of the same pilot appears. The transition from confident to chaotic happens quickly, and only through dedicated training to counteract this physiological startle response can any pilot overcome it.
simulators and the lack of a startle response
Traditional pilot training does not adequately address unforeseen challenges to the point where they evoke the startle response. In particular, simulators do not prepare pilots to face the body’s involuntary fight or flight adrenaline rush, and more importantly, how to work through process-driven emergency procedures under duress. Without this incentive and the practice of counteracting it, loss of control in flight will remain the number one killer in aviation.
Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) is the only proven method to prepare pilots to successfully handle complex scenarios in moments of high stress. UPRT takes place in a controlled, airborne crawl-walk-run training methodology that begins with academics in the classroom and culminates with aerial maneuvers designed to teach students how to implement process-driven emergency procedures.
UPRT and SOF
This UPRT methodology is not limited to the airline industry. It’s the same method used by US Navy SEALs and other high-performing Special Operations Forces (SOF).
The skill and success of these units on the battlefield is not achieved through training for best-case scenarios, sunny weather, and impeccable equipment. This is achieved through a strong focus on the fundamentals, training for worst case scenarios, repetition and creating training scenarios that elicit startle responses in a controlled environment that successfully mitigates the risk of mishaps.
The training of our nation’s SOF warriors…
