The biggest problem I see with automation in modern day aviation, without a doubt starts in the initial stages of training. I am a firm believer new pilots or student pilots need a significant amount of experience flying before any exposure to these new systems, but then again what really counts as significant experience? Pilots and students are not all the same, but it is just as important early as it is late, that pilots refrain from developing any type of dependency on this equipment.
Even though it is evident that automation has greatly contributed to safety in aviation and reduced the workload in the cockpit, it is the rare situations where pilots are faced with unfamiliar situations that one begins to question the possibility of automation being a problem. I am not too familiar with the training pipelines of current airline pilots in the majors or regionals, but would bet that the majority of their training for emergency procedures, stalls, unfamiliar attitudes and system malfunctions are done in simulators more then in the actual aircraft model they fly.
Having been on aircrews in the Navy, I can say that in the military it is the exact opposite. Every flight regardless of the mission includes emergency drills and procedures either in transit to and from operating areas and/or being the sole purpose of the flight. Most training is done in the aircraft and a more minimal amount is done in the simulator. I feel that this relaxes the situation much more when it actually occurs in flight; the crew is used to it, and has seen it before in the actual aircraft as opposed to just in a simulator.
As a management major and a future military pilot, I try to look at the issue from both perspectives. The automation is there for a reason and is highly effective, and in my opinion the benefits outweigh the possible problems by a landslide. However, I can easily see how reliability on this equipment can affect general flying abilities. I believe the understanding of the aircraft itself and its systems is key in mastering their operation, but repetition is just as important, especially in emergency situations, and with the use of modern automation, that repetition and use of basic instruments and procedures has decreased.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3651/is_200101/ai_n8952663/
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3651/is_200101/ai_n8952663/
I appreciated your military perspective. Yes, it is very different at the airlines, where all training is completed in the simulator (initial and recurrent). On another note, in the future, you may want to introduce your link somehow so people know what they are clicking on.
ReplyDeleteIf it were financially possible for airlines to take up aircraft for the sole purpose of training I feel that most airlines would be foolish to pass up that opportunity to get pilots acclimated to emergencies. Unfortunately the reality is the first flight you fly in the airlines has the people who pay in the back. Although I think it would be a heck of a time on a Boeing or Airbus while they performed emergency descents, power on stalls, etc...
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said on how pilots should be taught without these automation systems, because every pilot should know how to fly the aircraft without before they make it easier. It is safe the say also that in a simulator and real life situation are two completely different things, there a stress related issues when in real life that affect situations like that.
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