Are Aviation Professionals Prepared?

Halldale Group Editor Marty Kauchak provides a report from the morning conference sessions on Day 2 at WATS 2021.

Improving Communication Dynamics

Conor Mckenna, CEO of Vocavio Technologies of Bristol, UK and Dublin, Ireland, built the business case for his team’s efforts to use software analyses to gain non-verbal cues from speech communication, such as tone of voice, in aviation training. McKenna focused on one specific project of interest for the community, the company’s TeamDX effort to measure the activities of a two-person defense load-master crew, and in turn, gain insights on their communication skills, teamwork and situational awareness. Vocavio is using current, best-of breed enabling hardware and software technologies (Unity, Oculus, and others) to complement its speech engine, to measure and extract data from the crews’ pitch, energy tempo and other voice attributes – in this instance, in a VR setting. The results are generally revealed in a data-driven after-action review. The scenario’s findings have major implications for improving communication dynamics among crews in a civil or military team setting.

Closing the Knowledge Gaps

The Professional Aviation Board of Certification (PABC) is tackling head-on, two huge problems in the pilot accession process: the 50% of new hire pilots who, by the association’s data, are not well prepared for their programs, and the 10% drop rate of new hire pilots from their accession programs. Capt. (ret.) Peter Wolfe, Executive Director at PABC, pointed out to the delegates the significant lost revenue and investment costs from these outcomes. While in one instance, the minimum drop cost to an airline is about $20,000 per pilot, the lost investment for a pilot who leaves the program is about $38,500. While these “low-level” costs are important, there is the broader impact of failing to meet the overarching airlines’ expected, surging demand for new accessions. Wolfe quoted the Boeing 20-year pilot projection which calls for 38,000 new pilots, with that apportioned to about 10,400/year to meet the US’s demand. “If we lose 10% here, and 50% there, there is a simple problem to prevent us from meeting demand,” the retired airline captain asserted.

For its part, PABC has a work in progress to help focus and analyze the gaps in new and aspiring pilots’ knowledge gaps, following their completion of ground school training and its requisite simulator- and aircraft-based instruction. The board’s actions include conducting tests consisting of eight or more questions in 15 topics, to reveal knowledge shortfalls of newly reported individuals for training. Wolfe was cautious to add the process is neither “getting in the way of ATOs’ activities, nor the regulatory exam process,” but rather, is seeking to uncover the gaps early on, and share the results of its testing outcomes and trends – with care taken to protect the privacy of those tested.

Session 6: Reaffirming the Next Generation

The Primacy of Self Efficacy

Nicholas Wilson, PhD, Associate Professor of Aviation at the University of North Dakota, told the morning session’s attendees that self-efficacy is the best predictor of examination scores. The implications of his research extend into training, management, curriculum design and recruitment. The challenge for community mangers and leaders is how to improve self-efficacy in an aviation enterprise’s new recruits and new hires. Actionable items include a manager mentoring and coaching new personnel through feedback and encouragement.

Project ENGAP’s Quickening Pace of Activities

Suzanne Kearns, PhD, Associate Professor of Aviation at University of Waterloo, and Simon Witts, Aviation 360 and ENGAP 360, updated Day 2 pilot delegates with their quick moving ENGAP (Engaging the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals) activities. As brief background, ENGAP maintains the aviation industry of 2020 was not sustainable, noting among other focal points, there is a shortage of the right people with the right skillsets in the community, and the community must remain ahead of the technology bow wave.

For her part, Dr. Kearns reported the launch of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics. The institute is designed to be a hub of sustainable aviation and aerospace research, technology and education, with a more specific focus on developing a sustainable workforce, reducing negative environmental impacts on aviation and supporting sustainable economic growth. Further, the institute is now collaborating with ICAO to award certificates in aviation courses to transitioning individuals and upskilling professionals.

Witts reported the 2021 start-up of the International Air & Space Training Institute (IASTI) network sites in Newark and London. The ENGAP proponent and leader noted these and other in-country efforts are works in progress.