Presenter Email

wpittorie2012@fit.edu

Keywords

Aerobatics, loss of control, LOC, upset recovery

Abstract

Upset recovery and aerobatics are two topics in general aviation that are often overlooked by commercial pilots in training. This can be due to several different constraints, such as not having the time or resources to receive optional flight instruction, or the workload involved with locating a reputable school and qualified flight instructor. In addition, upset recovery and aerobatics training is not required to become a commercially rated pilot and start a career in the aviation industry. However, both topics, especially upset recovery, can increase a pilot’s awareness of the limitations of their own aircraft and increase their confidence when faced with a loss–of-control situation. Implementing upset recovery and aerobatics into a collegiate flight training curriculum would mitigate some of the constraints that a pilot faces when making the decision to pursue this training. This paper begins by analyzing the limited upset recovery training that a student pilot receives during their primary flight training and how this relates to the frequency and types of aircraft accidents caused by a loss of control. Next, a sample collegiate flight training curriculum will be reviewed to identify subject areas that are expanded upon in upset recovery and aerobatic training. The presentation will discuss how areas identified in this curriculum could be used to develop abbreviated syllabi for collegiate upset recovery and aerobatic courses that could be grounded in academics and serve as an advantageous addition to the primary training a college student receives in their collegiate flight training program.

Share

COinS
 

Development of Upset Recovery and Basic Aerobatic Courses for Collegiate Flight Training Programs

Upset recovery and aerobatics are two topics in general aviation that are often overlooked by commercial pilots in training. This can be due to several different constraints, such as not having the time or resources to receive optional flight instruction, or the workload involved with locating a reputable school and qualified flight instructor. In addition, upset recovery and aerobatics training is not required to become a commercially rated pilot and start a career in the aviation industry. However, both topics, especially upset recovery, can increase a pilot’s awareness of the limitations of their own aircraft and increase their confidence when faced with a loss–of-control situation. Implementing upset recovery and aerobatics into a collegiate flight training curriculum would mitigate some of the constraints that a pilot faces when making the decision to pursue this training. This paper begins by analyzing the limited upset recovery training that a student pilot receives during their primary flight training and how this relates to the frequency and types of aircraft accidents caused by a loss of control. Next, a sample collegiate flight training curriculum will be reviewed to identify subject areas that are expanded upon in upset recovery and aerobatic training. The presentation will discuss how areas identified in this curriculum could be used to develop abbreviated syllabi for collegiate upset recovery and aerobatic courses that could be grounded in academics and serve as an advantageous addition to the primary training a college student receives in their collegiate flight training program.

 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.