Reexamination of stall and spin prevention training

PR Veillette - Transportation Research Record, 1993 - trid.trb.org
PR Veillette
Transportation Research Record, 1993trid.trb.org
Stall and spin accidents continue to cause nearly 25% of the fatalities in general aviation
each year despite the FAA's emphasis on stall prevention. The effectiveness of past studies,
the military's successful approach to stall and spin training, and pilot judgment training are
examined; all of these factors may partly explain the relative constancy of the stall and spin
accident rates. Recommendations of many past stall and spin studies were examined to
determine whether they had been implemented and, if so, whether they had been effective …
Stall and spin accidents continue to cause nearly 25% of the fatalities in general aviation each year despite the FAA's emphasis on stall prevention. The effectiveness of past studies, the military's successful approach to stall and spin training, and pilot judgment training are examined; all of these factors may partly explain the relative constancy of the stall and spin accident rates. Recommendations of many past stall and spin studies were examined to determine whether they had been implemented and, if so, whether they had been effective. Second, military flight training programs approach stall and spin prevention very differently and with more successful results. The US Air Force's stall and spin prevention training program is compared with civilian training programs and reveals significant differences in spin training requirements, standardization, pilot knowledge and instructor training and professionalism. Third, pilot judgment has been cited as a causal factor in 95% of all stall and spin accidents. Pilot judgment training during private pilot training is also evaluated, and it is found that judgment training has not been incorporated into civilian training syllabi as suggested by previous studies. The investigation determined that the stall and spin problem, rather than being treated as a single issue, really is more symptomatic of several larger issues that must be confronted in general aviation flight safety. Recommendations are made for flight training, flight instructor qualifications, professionalism and skills, pilot knowledge, and aircraft certification; if implemented, these suggestions could reduce the overall accident rate in general aviation.
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