Upset Prevention and Recovery Training - A Regulator Update

Abstract

Regulations in the United States stipulate that all airline pilots begin receiving upset prevention and recovery training in 2019. This year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published guidance to meet those regulations. Two important approvals are necessary before an operator delivers this training. First, the principal FAA inspector for that airline will have to approve the training program. Second, pilots and engineers from the National Simulator Program will have to qualify the simulator used for the training. To add consistency to these approvals, training that covers the main principles of the regulations and guidance is being provided academically and in a simulator to the personnel in both approval paths. To date, the training has been beta-tested with several FAA pilot and engineering groups. This paper covers the training, what has been learned in its early delivery, as well as the key questions arising since the regulations and guidance have been issued. The predominant challenge is to undo the previous technique of trying to use engine thrust as the primary means to recover from a stall.