Disclaimer! This
is NOT an opinion piece, but rather a collection of various readings
and clippings which
serve to spur further exploration in the topic. These are not full
articles but simply excerpts from the bulk of reading material that is
available. As much
citation and references were taken with regards to the topic. Legitimacy
and
accuracy of the clippings are read at your own discretion.
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An airline pilot might be subject to semi annual training and testing whereas a business aviation pilot holding the same category of license might only require training on an annual basis and a proficiency check every second year.
It is also important to realize that, whilst a pilot might meet both currency and recency requirements, this does not necessarily ensure proficiency in all areas.
(Click here for Airmanship Model by Tony Kern)
Critical skills and knowledge can fade between mandatory training and testing sessions due to inactivity, lack of individual effort or simply through lack of exposure to certain events or areas of operation.
Proficiency can also fade due to over-reliance on automation, (Click here for another good read of automation Children of the Magenta.) aging, inactivity due to recovery from an illness or injury, infrequent opportunities to fly due to type of employment or role within the organization, or due to a overall reduction in flying hours.
The COVID 19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on pilot skill fade due to fleet and flying hour reductions, furloughs and redundancies. Although enacted to help reduce COVID spread, the NAA extension of currency expiry dates and suspension of recency requirements, authorized in some jurisdictions, have potentially exacerbated this impact.
- Retention interval - The ability to remember information is
proportional to its frequency of use. In essence, the longer the period
of non-use, the greater the probability of decay.
- Overlearning - Overlearning refers to the amount of extra training
beyond the point needed to reach competency. Overlearning has the
potential to induce complacency and increase the association between
stimulus and response.
- Training methodology - The type of training and testing methodology
will affect knowledge retention.
- Task type - The degree of skill fade associated with a given type
of task will vary from individual to individual. Some people are more
capable of performing tasks that require physical strength, coordination
or dexterity, while others excel at problem solving or decision-making.
- Conditions of retrieval - Skill retention is partially dependent
upon the conditions and environment of training. If these are
significantly different from the workplace situation, skill retention
will suffer. However, if the setting for learning and testing mirrors
the workplace, skill retention will be enhanced.
- Individual ability - High ability individuals, in general, will show less skill fade than their less able peers.
Research has indicated that individuals with long held skills and knowledge were better able to retain their skills during periods of disuse when they:
- kept in touch with their peers
- stayed aware of developments in their profession
- had a high level of learning and proficiency at the start of the furlough period
Thou high tech simulators may not be readily available, there are however, low tech
solutions.
- A regular study of the AFM
to review aircraft systems and procedures
- Utilising flash cards to
reinforce limitations and memory items
- Use of a "paper trainer",
consisting of wall mounted cockpit panel diagrams and the corresponding
aircraft checklists, to practicing flows, checklist responses and
cockpit procedures, can all contribute to significantly reducing the
rate of skill fade during a hiatus from flying.
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