Citation

Burian BK, Feldman J. Int. J. Aviat. Psychol. 2009; 19(3): 217-234.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10508410902983870

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although weather-related accidents in general aviation continue to claim many lives every year, what pilots are taught about weather during their earliest training is largely unknown. Certified flight instructors were surveyed regarding the weather training they provide to primary student pilots. Participants typically report spending 10 to 12 hr on weather instruction with their primary students. Instrument instructors (CFIIs) report placing significantly greater emphasis on 17 of 34 weather topics when instructing primary student pilots than instructors who are only rated to instruct primary student pilots (CFIs). Similarly, participants who instruct under FAR Part 141 or in academic settings state that they place significantly more emphasis on almost all of the weather topics than those participants who only instruct under FAR Part 61. Generally, all participants report that their own mastery of weather content is significantly better than the quality of the instruction they provide on that content to primary student pilots. Implications of these findings are discussed.