Airplane Pilots Rely Too Much on Automated Technology, Diminishing Skills: US Government Report

Gee, good thing that isn't happening in any other professions we could think of...JL

Mariella Moon reports in Engadget:

Advancements in technology contribute to "diminished manual flying skills," which is dangerous as studies show pilots overestimate their ability to navigate a plane in manual mode.According to the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration isn't even making sure they're properly trained on how to manually fly planes.

While automakers are still in the midst of developing driverless tech for cars, pilots are already relying too much on automated systems. According to the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration isn't even making sure they're properly trained on how to manually fly planes. In the audit report published by the agency, it said that "several recent accidents, including the July 2013 crash of Asiana Airlines flight 214" can prove that. Those instances showed that pilots who typically rely on automation can be prone to errors during emergency situations and in any event wherein they have to switch to manual controls.

The report continued:

As a result, reliance on automation is a growing concern among industry experts, who have also questioned whether pilots are provided enough training and experience to maintain manual flying proficiency.

Advancements in technology contribute to "diminished manual flying skills," the DOT said, which is dangerous as studies show pilots overestimate their ability to navigate a plane in manual mode. To ensure the safety of passengers, the agency wants the FAA to develop guidelines airlines can use to train and evaluate their pilots. Plus, it believes the FAA should conjure up standards on how to determine if they've received sufficient training to be able to fly planes on their own.