Says Jet-Based Training Is Affordable, Fits Most Pilots' Schedules

Inflight loss of control is the leading cause of commercial-aviation fatalities, but most pilots still aren't getting enough training in it, according to Gauntlet Warbirds, an advanced flight training facility based near Chicago.

In the interest of improving safety industry-wide, Gauntlet says it has identified the three most common barriers that prevent pilots from getting effective upset-recovery training:

"The industry is pushing upset training, but not many people are getting it," says Gauntlet's Chief Pilot, Greg Morris. "A lot of that is because of the cost. Flight-department budgets are stretched to the limit already."

Morris says flight departments find it difficult to schedule several days of downtime. "But that's normally what it takes for pilots to travel to an offsite facility to go through training."

He adds that most pilots are actually a little scared of upset-recovery training. "They see it as 'eating their vegetables.' It's good for them, but they don't like the idea."

To counter the Time and Money barriers, Gauntlet is introducing a new onsite, jet-based upset training package. With this program, Gauntlet will bring its Aero L-39 jet to any location in the continental U.S. and conduct up to five flights of training per day.

"This is a game-changer," says Morris. "By offering jet upset training on-site, flight crews don't have the cost and downtime of traveling to a distant training center. We bring it all to them."

In response to the 'fear factor,' Gauntlet carefully tailors its upset-recovery training for each individual pilot's tolerance. "It's not hardcore, competition aerobatics," says Morris. "Pretty much any pilot would enjoy this."

FMI: www.gauntletwarbirds.com