instructor.aviation.ca

Since the invention of the aircraft, flight training has focused on the acquisition of psychomotor skills: simple stick and rudder, navigation, and calculations.

It was not the general rule for flying schools to train people to think and read critically, to express themselves clearly and persuasively, to understand and be able to solve complex problems in human relations and situational awareness. Now, the beginning of a new century for aviation, aspects of high literacy and thinking skills are required of almost everyone in order to successfully negotiate the complexities of contemporary life as a pilot. The skill demands for work have increased dramatically, as has the need for organizations and workers to change in response to competitive workplace pressures.

Thoughtful participation in organizational culture, the democratic process, and safety management has also become increasingly complicated, as the focus has shifted from local corporate to national and even global concerns.

It will take a new breed of Flight Instructor to train pilots to incorporate the thinking skills and soft-skills that will be required in the new reality of aviation. Few are the days remaining when airlines can hire military-trained pilots or draw from a pilot pool where the majority of pilots have thousands of hours and years of working experience.

Instructor.aviation.ca exists for the sharing and advancement of these higher-level Flight Instructor skills. We encourage you to participate in the forums, take on-line courses and workshops, and to contribute articles and stories that will help to build the new, highly qualified flight instructor community.