Flight Training - March/April 2025 - 43

BOTTOM RIGHT: FOREFLIGHT
The transformative power of modern
avionics would have seemed magical
to previous generations of pilots.
Ubiquitous devices like iPhones coupled
with aviation apps have improved the
ways we plan, execute, record, and
share our aviation experiences. Yet,
we still have access to the vintage
trainers that demanded superior
stick-and-rudder skills from the
pilots who preceded us.
Student pilots who learn
to fly with integrated avionics
suites like the Garmin G1000
will likely have an easier time
picking up complex flight
management systems in larger,
faster airplanes because the
boxes share similar logic. They also
record each flight, and that data can
be reviewed and evaluated later using
programs like FlySto and ForeFlight.
Autopilots used to be relegated to
high-end airplanes only, not trainers. But the
introduction of lightweight, digital autopilots to
the training fleet allows new pilots to get used to
operating them earlier. When used judiciously during
training, they can be valuable workload reducers
and safety enhancements. And truthfully, the new
generation of autopilots fly far better than the heavy,
clunky old ones ever did.
Today's training aircraft are more resistant to
inadvertent stalls and spins than ever, and that's
mostly a blessing although there's a hint of a curse,
too. The obvious benefit is improved flight safety
by avoiding often fatal stall/spin accidents. The
downside is that new students don't have the chance
to develop the stick-and-rudder skills and rudder
acuity that came from flying tailwheel trainers like
Piper Cubs, Aeronca Champs, Citabrias, and others
that were commonly used for primary training
decades ago. Countering adverse yaw and other
undesirable flight characteristics inherent in trainers
of that era required heightened pilot awareness and
timely responses.
Such training shortcomings don't have to be permanent,
however. New pilots can seek out tailwheel,
aerobatic, unusual-attitude, backcountry, glider, and
seaplane training that can fill those gaps. Then, new
pilots can combine those old-school skills with their
facility with modern avionics and planning tools
to build on the knowledge base passed along from
preceding generations.
The job prospects for new pilots seeking aviation
careers are brighter than they've ever been-and the
opportunities aren't limited to those seeking airline
careers. They're available for pilots in corporate,
charter, agriculture, firefighting, outfitters, drop
zones, flight instruction, and many other fields. That
promising career outlook
isn't just good for pilots
looking for work, either.
It's manna for flight
schools, maintenance
facilities, and aircraft
manufacturers, too. That
healthy forecast leads
to new investments that
can raise training standards
and improve the flight training
experience for everyone.
New pilots would be foolish to ignore
the uncertainties and potential storm clouds on the
horizon. Pilotless or remotely piloted drones have
shown that aircraft can be flown all over the world
with no one in the cockpit. Aircraft manufacturers
are developing pilot-optional aircraft, and it's possible
that two-pilot crews could be reduced to single-pilot
operations at air cargo and even passenger airlines in
the not-too-distant future.
Regardless of the technological changes that take
place in aviation, however, the characteristics and
personality traits for success in flying are timeless.
Curiosity, grit, technical mastery, resourcefulness,
teamwork, and self-confidence will always be
essential in flying.
Throw in some deft hand-eye-foot coordination
as a tribute to pilots from yesteryear and today's
aviators can be the most capable and complete pilots
that have ever existed. FT
dave.hirschman@aopa.org
FLIGHT TRAINING MARCH/APRIL 2025
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Flight Training - March/April 2025

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