So which one is it and what the heck is this guy talking about?
In the recent few years there seems to be a fair share of TAA (Technically Advanced Aircraft) aircraft that are being compromised (read as destroyed by accident) with probably the most recognized TAA of the lot being the Cirrus SR20 and SR22.
What is a Technically Advanced Aircraft? Well, I am glad you asked. Now go take a look at the link below, go study, come back and let’s resume where we left off.
http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/taa_1_6.pdf
So how is it that we seem to be losing so many of these new advanced aircraft with all their incredible informational displays that include terrain, weather, traffic and additional safety features such as parachutes? Is it the aircraft? The systems? The pilot? Is there too much information and too little training?
Could it be flawed judgement and decision making at critical times and simply system overload? Are these aircraft the modern day forked tailed doctor killers? (Like the early Beechcraft Bonanza’s)
Typically owners of these types of aircraft are bright and successful professionals with abundant amounts of confidence, too little time and the need to go from point A to point B in as little of time as possible. Is this true for all of them? Of course not. But it is a factor.
So wait a minute…who is Jim Rhoads and what does he know about TAA aircraft?
Well by now, you already know who I am but you might be asking what I do. Fair enough..I belong too, and lead a team that develops training applications and simulations / systems for both the Avidyne Cirrus and Piper equipped aircraft. Current development projects include the Garmin G1000 training systems and applications.
Check out our website: http://www.flight1tech.com
I have worked very closely with Avidyne and an aerospace professor at the University of North Dakota who is a very influential member of the FAA FITS framework. Our products have received the FAA FITS acceptance which means that they adhere to, and are developed around the FITS standard and curriculum.
I am certainly not trying to puff my chest or say I know anything special or that I have any incredible insight (I do not) but what I am saying is that I am well versed with many of the newer technologies and systems, and many of the human factors surrounding these newer TAA (Technically Advanced Aircraft) and I have studied them intently.
I would bet a large sum of money that I know the Avidyne system better than most of the upper management at Avidyne. And I am quite confident I would win that bet. I kid you not. (Don’t ask)
What is the problem then you ask? Good question. The bottom line is that it really is too early to know.
Avionics and TAA type aircraft have made their move at an incredible pace in the last few years. It used to be that a Vor head was a Vor head was a Vor head. A Com radio was a Com radio was a Com radio. This is no longer true.
Nowadays, you can jump in one aircraft that has a G430 GPS unit in the panel, and jump in another with a KLN94 GPS and there is not one thing that works the same. No continuity, no standardization and in a sense, no rules.
This is where FITS comes in to place. FITS is trying to bring manufacturers and training into a more formalized manner and attempting to teach the pilot to use and develop prudent judgment and decision making skills. I wont go into all the potential benefits that FITS is trying to bring to the table but I will tell you that it is a very good thing and for more information go to:
http://www.faa.gov/education_research/training/fits/
So, What exactly is the problem?
So, what is going on? Who or what is at fault? Is it the aircraft/systems or is it the over confidence of pilots that are commanding these vessels? Is it lack of training or lack of wanting to train? Actually, I can not tell you that I, or anyone knows exactly. However, we can all agree that there indeed is an alarming rate of TAA aircraft that are being “compromised” and we truly desire to do all we can to help reduce or eliminate what may be causing this.
What happens to folks that have been trained on conventional analog instrumentation when the glass display goes belly up? Do they revert back to an analog mindset? (The analog system is there as a backup) do they go into panic mode? Do they lock up? What happens?
I can speculate. I can site statistics. I can tell you what I think personally…
I have seen both types of Cirrus pilots. The ones that earnestly seek more information and want to become more proficient and want to learn anything and everything about the aircraft, the systems and whatever will make them a better pilot.
I have also seen the ones that are the classic stereo type of being quite confident, wanting to get from point A to point B in the least amount of time, and believe that their Cirrus has superman like powers and have way, way too much confidence in the “chute”
“Chute does happen” but it ain’t a general purpose safety valve and you better damned well know how and when to use it or it will kill you much more effectively than if you never had it at all.
Know this…..Advanced Technology isn’t going away. This is the future and like anything that goes forward, we will find out where we are short, where we can improve and we can only hope that the pilots of these aircraft will want to improve their skills, develop better decision and judgment making skills and increase their knowledge with the advancing technology.
Some of us are trying to find out more, trying to offer advice, solutions and training to meet the demands of TAA aircraft.
TAA aircraft are incredible, and have all the potential of making these types of aircraft and pilots much more aware and much safer than ever before.
My personal opinion? It’s no different than it has ever been. Know your airplane. Know its systems. Stay proficient, remain humble and learn every single thing you can with passion.
It is not just your life…it belongs to so many other people besides yourself and you owe it to them and yourself to be the very best you can be. Just like what you did to get you to the place you are today. You know what I mean?….
Y’all be careful out there… :>)
Best,
Jim Rhoads