CBTA: Enhancing Safety Outcomes and Enabling Adaptive, Pilot-Centered Training Journeys

The evolution of pilot training in commercial aviation is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by the need to enhance safety, personalize learning, and align training outcomes with real-world operational demands. At the forefront of this transformation is competency-based training and assessment (CBTA), which moves beyond traditional pass/fail metrics to focus on developing observable, measurable competencies tailored to individual performance. In this story we have reached out to industry experts for an overview of CBTA implementation so far and the integration into CBTA of data analytics, artificial intelligence and immersive technologies.

Established Methodology

CBTA programs are being continuously developed and delivered independently or collaboratively on a global basis by a significant number of air operators, original equipment manufacturers as well as approved training organizations (ATO), according to Peter Hogston, head of training at Acron Aviation. “CBTA enables the development of unique training programs to support individual performance rather than lumping all pilots into the same pass/fail box,” the executive initially said. “Competent authorities are working closely with operators to deliver safety-enhanced training programmes through CBTA and the data this training methodology is generating.”

Data collected by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicates that 47% of operators and training organizations have implemented CBTA programs in some aspect such as pilot licensing training, operator training and dangerous goods training, among others, Yann Renier, head of training and licensing, OSS-flight and technical operations, at IATA, said. “Among those respondents who had not yet implemented CBTA, 65% indicated that they had a plan to implement CBTA within the next three years. This data indicates the industry appetite for CBTA and is supported by ICAO surveys regarding CBTA implementation in the States.” he added.

Only mature airlines with a critical mass of pilots can undertake a significant EBT implementation, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) team observed. “We do not have exact numbers, but we see a positive trend. A few ATOs have started to apply the CBTA methodology in their training, despite there being no regulatory framework in place yet. EASA is working on ab-initio CBTA programs via a dedicated rulemaking project,” the EASA team said. “The evidence-based training (EBT) Manual published by EASA provides some of the industry best practices for implementing EBT.”

Implementation Best Practices

Every CBTA program requires comprehensive change management, primarily for instructors and trainees, pointed out Gilad Scherpf, senior director of aviation training development at Lufthansa Aviation Training. “It is crucial to convey the sense and meaning of the related methodological changes and to constantly align on consistent standards and derived training data,” he said. “In addition, adequate tools for monitoring, evaluating and assessing competencies must be implemented. In an ideal setup, the same competency framework, instructor standards and continuously collected trainee data are used throughout a pilot’s career. This allows for personalized, efficient and effective training.”

Data is an important enabler of future developments in CBTA training as the industry moves towards EBT, Hogston affirmed. “We use data throughout the pilot training journey, our award-winning flight data monitoring (FDM) program employed during the initial and advanced stages of ab-initio training replicates the systems used by commercial airlines globally,” he explained. “Using this data, with advanced data analytics technology and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, training teams can immediately see event trends, safety concerns and training opportunities. This has enabled operations teams to schedule flights to reduce the risk of air proximity events in training areas.”

As trainees progress through the multi-crew cooperation (MCC) element of their course, MCC instructors record competency-based behaviors using the unique Acron Aviation Competency Assessment Recording Application (CARA) to meet the needs of CBTA, Hogston explained. “This creates immensely valuable data for the trainee and training management teams, as well as the partner airline, as students progress to line training. To complement the competency-based structure of our training courses, we are also implementing CARA into type rating training which enhances the competency-based assessment in harmony with the task-based elements,” he added. “Additionally, where data (including skill assessments and simulator data) is extracted from the simulator during training events, it can be matched with real-time FDM for individual pilots from the recently developed Pilot App (an instant post-flight FDM readout for the professional pilot) to create a unique, personal training passport that the pilot can use to develop their individual skills.”

In terms of best practices, IATA has published various guides to support operators, training organizations and authorities in implementing CBTA programmes for flight crew training, in accordance with ICAO CBTA principles and industry best practices, Renier exlained. “The IATA CBTA Library contains various guides to support the implementation of CBTA programs for flight crew training, from ab-initio training to recurrent training, to captain training, to instructor/assessor training,” he said. “IATA guidance material and best practices for instructor and assessor (IE) training contain practical details for designing initial and recurring standardization of IE CBTAs. The IATA CBTA Guide for Flight Crew Training, published in 2023, is the first guidance published in the industry to support the implementation of the CBTA for flight crew training.”

According to CAE’s Chief Learning Officer, Chris Ranganathan, his company worked with IATA to develop the industry’s first CBTA-focussed training designer curriculum and to build the course to train the “instructor trainer” cadre. “This will in turn train and assess the rest of the instructor workforce. CAE has been using the CBTA methodology to capture initial and recurrent instructor competency data using CBTA principles through their Instructor Pilot Performance Management (IPPM) system for the last four years,” he initially told CAT.

Ranganathan further emphasised that what CAE sees, often overlooked, is the need for a systematic management of change program that addresses the gradual but deliberate evolutionary changes to an operator’s training programs, taking all stakeholders along at the same pace in the CBTA journey – effectively changing the culture of the operator’s training, operations, safety assurance, as well as the competent authority’s inspector(s).

Coupling Data

CBTA is the first step towards EBT where data from aircraft FDM programs, training programs and flight synthetic training devices (FSTD) can be used to develop and deliver skills development programmes tailored to the individual, according to Hogston. “By coupling this data with new technologies, the industry is likely to reduce its dependence on full-flight simulators and expensive recurrent programs through a push towards continuous safety improvement and pilot-owned development programs. We are working with several airlines to develop more advanced training philosophies as part of this journey towards EBT, enabling training and flight operations to form a seamless ecosystem that continues to implement innovation in creating safer skies,” he said and continued, “The technological landscape is constantly evolving, however there are systems on the market that will enhance the learning journey, allow the individual to own their own skills development and, as a direct consequence, reduce the risk of rare Black Swan events.”

much data analysis all at once, such as looking for correlations, patterns, or trends. A human as a computer has limitations that the computer does not have. They can also be more accurate and faster. They could even provide insights. The idea is to exploit this ability of the system”.

Data-Driven Insights

The differentiation of competencies enables the application of specific advanced technologies such as virtual reality (VR) for procedure training or generative AI for knowledge transfer and retention, according to Scherpf. “Besides a seamless CBTA approach, one major enabler for the further development of CBTA rests within the effective analysis and processing of aggregated data from flight operations, safety departments and training as well as personalized trainee data,” he added.

Automated data-driven insights could help ease the burden on instructors by allowing them to focus on assessing certain observable skills and behaviors that require expert human judgment and cannot be captured via technology, such as leadership and teamwork, Rennier observed. “Eye tracking technologies are rapidly advancing. Insights captured by eye tracking technology, such as integrated biometric-telemetry capability, can enhance the assessment and training experience for instructors and trainees by addressing key aspects of pilot performance, supporting skill assessment, and facilitating targeted training interventions,” he said. “These systems can generate alerts when a pilot loses track of critical flight parameters, allowing instructors to address attention gaps as they arise, thereby supporting on-the-fly learning and reinforcing tracking behaviors”.

As biometric and performance data is collected and reviewed within the instructor/rater cohort, agreement between instructors or raters, and alignment with the operator benchmark can be improved, Renier highlighted. “This helps ensure that assessments and feedback remain fair and consistent, allowing instructors/raters to calibrate their assessments more effectively and promote standardised training outcomes,” he said. “Beyond airline training, AI can assist almost everyone, pilots, air traffic controllers, maintenance, instructors, etc. If we can input all the relevant data into the AI tool, from the weather to our flight plan, notices to airmen, etc., AI could even eventually assist pilots in decision-making situations. We are not there yet, but this is a potential application in the future.”

“Measuring the efficacy of training through operational safety audits such as LOSA that use the same CBTA framework as in training, is a workflow that CAE has helped operators implement, as a measure of training system effectiveness and as a training design input for continuous improvement,” Ranganathan recalled from CAE’s experience with its airline client projects.

More Effective Implementation

AI will certainly support broader and more effective CBTA implementation, helping instructors and assessors to be more objective and harmonized, the EASA team explained. “Extended reality (XR), which is the umbrella term for augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality, has already been usedby flight simulator manufacturers,” the EASA team pointed out. “We see a growing trend in this direction, which will lead to more simulators on the market, cheaper in some cases, with improved capabilities to support all actors, instructors and assessors. One area of interest is the use of XR in multi-pilot training, as today the interfaces between two pilots in conventional flight simulators are crucial for crew resource management training and any XR application should be able to replicate today’s environment.”

From a regulator’s perspective, a broader and more effective implementation of the basic EBT for recurrent training and checking is envisaged, according to the EASA team. “Using the existing ORO.FC requirements, we will provide a regulatory framework for the extension of the EBT to the operator conversion course, integrated with the type rating training and command course. In this way, airline pilot training will follow a CBTA approach from start to finish,” the EASA team concluded.

Ranganathan agreed with the EASA perspective. “CBTA adoption is expected to grow, with gradual integration into global regulatory frameworks. Airlines and training organizations will continue to move from task-based models to competency-focused training, with AI assisting in curriculum design and adaptive learning. Further, advanced air mobility, including electric vertical take-off and landing, will require specialised CBTA-based training programs,” the executive concluded.

Summing Up

As the commercial aviation industry embraces CBTA as a cornerstone of future training systems, the convergence of advanced data collection, AI-enhanced analytics, and next-generation simulation technologies is reshaping how pilots are trained and assessed. CBTA is not only enhancing safety outcomes but also enabling adaptive, pilot-centered training journeys. The continued evolution toward EBT, supported by biometric insights, real-time performance monitoring, and personalized training passports, lays the groundwork for a safer, smarter, and more effective training ecosystem.