Training for Advanced Technology Aircraft - A Pilot's Perspective

Advanced technology aircraft were a major advance in air transport. They are the aircraft of our immediate future. Training for these aircraft is extremely important. It furnishes the interface between the manufacturer, the operator, and the pilot. It is very expensive. Neither the manufacturers, the airlines, nor the independent training organizations can afford to do it poorly.

Historically, most changes in training and in airline flight operations have been evolutionary, not revolutionary. However, there have been some truly generic changes and in the past few years at least two new training concepts -- LOFT and CRM. Several issues associated with the training and operation of advanced technology aircraft have been clarified since their inauguration.