Few people will argue that single-pilot operations are among the most challenging. We asked three highly experienced single-pilot operators to identify some of the most overlooked factors impacting safety during single-pilot ops and what pilots can do to mitigate them.
1. Overlooking the Need for Adequate Transitional Training
“Think about it: Single pilots have the same number of tasks as a crewed airplane but are doing it all by themselves and they often overlook that they have more operational limitations than the airplane they are flying,” said Kimberly P. Coryat, assistant professor of aviation/program coordinator, University of Memphis. “They can gain ‘false confidence’ because of the aircraft’s advanced systems. They should consider transitional training an opportunity to build their knowledge and improve their single-pilot resource management skills.
“It is your responsibility to demand adequate training to become totally familiar with and comfortable flying the airplane into the airports and environments in which you will be operating,” Coryat said.
2. Overlooking the Dangers of Complacency
“Complacency comes at the top of my list because we all fall victim to it sometime in our flying careers,” said Textron Aviation Vice President of Operations Rosa Lee Argotsinger. “It’s really a mindset of vigilance we need to maintain. One solution is to ask yourself what have you done lately to improve your personal piloting skills and how do you measure your performance. For most pilots, just receiving feedback isn’t enough to keep complacency at arm’s length.
“An excellent and objective way to evaluate your flying sharpness in real-time is to participate in Flight Data Monitoring, Flight Operations Quality Assurance, or a similar program,” Argotsinger said. “Additionally, pilots can take advantage of industry events such as NBAA’s Single-Pilot Safety Standdown, which offers excellent information and best practices from subject matter experts.”
3. Overlooking the Need for Personal Flight Minimums
“While establishing and sticking to your personal minimums is critical for every pilot, the practice is especially vital for single-pilot situations,” said Dan Moore, president, Dan Moore Aero. “You need to step back and examine your situation and your skills as they are today.
“An excellent first step is to fly with an instructor who knows you and the airplane. But it’s not what they know; it’s what you can learn from the situation that matters,” Moore said. “You have to want to learn and then use that knowledge to set your minimums. And once you establish your personal minimums, don’t ever ‘bust’ them. If there’s any doubt, the only answer is to say it’s a no-go.”
Review NBAA’s guidance on single-pilot operations at nbaa.org/singlepilot.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.