Page 18 - AAA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012 Online Magazine

OPINION

YOU SAY I SAY

Recently, there has been a resurgence of
controversy about pilot training. Some have
voiced concerns that pilots these days are too
dependent on technology and automation, and
often do not know what to do in the event of a

malfunction. Is there an overdependence on
modern pilot training methods, which largely
involve simulations – by definition, a controlled

setting – instead of “real” practice flying planes?

“Crews blindly follow the computers, but they’re still supposed to be able to look through
the data and see what their plane is doing.”

- Bill Voss, president of the US-based Flight Safety Foundation

“You can’t train for every scenario, but you can train for thought processes, and to make the
pilots trust the airplane. Transferring that [to trainees] is the hard part. So we also have to
make the airplanes smarter too.”

- Bob Bellitto, Chief Customer Officer, Boeing Flight Services and Global Sales Director, Training and Flight
Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes

“Our compressed training footprint takes no shortcuts! Our focus is on creating a more
meaningful learning experience in the most cost-effective manner, achieving a greater rate
of success for cadets. Our team has extensive airline experience, training management
experience and curriculum development expertise. Combined with a dedication to student
advocacy and support, we know you will be confident in our ability to deliver a quality
education. Simulation-based training tools on your computer before, during and after
training [will allow students] unlimited time for study and practice, [and the company offers
a] structured training environment designed to fully support your progress throughout the
entire programme.”

- An aviation training school, writing on a US-based website

So, we cannot blame this crew. What we can say is that most probably
this crew and most crews were not prepared to face such an event.

- Jean-Paul Troadec, the director of BEA accident investigators on Air France Flight 447 crash
What’s your view? Log on to www.asianairlines-airports.com and let us know what you think.

18 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2012 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM