Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
I was involved with training as well. The trend I noticed was that systems have become so complex that airlines are not going very deep into teaching them anymore. A pilot is given a cartoon picture of a general depiction of how a system works and that is all. A typical line pilot does not need to reach an engineers level of understanding when there is little they can do about it anyway.
Granted, one does not need to be an engineer and that many training programs are washes. But one does need to know more than 'push the button' or 'put out the light'.
If something goes wrong just follow the checklist. More often I have seen pilots make matters worse when they try and trouble shoot a situation.
So, earlier you said pilots are trained to not think and are just robots and now you say that acting in a non-robot fashion creates more problems. Which is it?
A pilot only needs to be able to pass the check ride not to be able to re-engineer the plane. Polluting the situation with layers of irrelevant information can make matters worse. For the most part mindless button pushing is good enough.
First we know check rides and line checks are not indicative of real world behavior. They are merely a tool for some measures. Sim training is most skill and knowledge based. It is not a thinking course.
If something does not react how you think it shoud then start punching buttons until it does or call maintenance control. Why should a pilot be taught anything more?
Skyhigh
I can see why you left aviation. What I can't understand is how you got into training. Anyway, push the button until something happens? Funny and again, I can see why you left aviation.
If I may.. what type aircraft were you flying and instructing on? And for whom. Your experience may well serve as a great example.