Boeing Chief Pilot Calls for Improved Training for Airline Pilots

Boeing has called on the aviation industry to transform aviation training for the next generation of commercial airline pilots and maintenance technicians.

At the World Aviation Training Symposium in Orlando, Fla., Mike Carriker, Boeing Test & Evaluation chief pilot for New Airplane Development, focused on training future aviation personnel to their fullest potential to maximize the capabilities of today's high technology airplanes.

"In my 25-year flying career – spanning military and commercial aircraft – there has been little change in training. Yet aircraft and teaching technologies have evolved exponentially," Carriker said. "We must make use of modern technology and focus our training efforts on equipping pilots and technicians with the knowledge to make the right decisions for the best, most efficient global transportation system."

Carriker called for reducing classroom training times and urged an industry transition from memorization-style training to competency-based training. He urged representatives of the aviation training industry to leverage the capabilities of today's advanced airplane systems. "We need to make these changes today to reestablish the aviation industry an attractive career option. We need to bring back the magic of flying."

In its annual Pilot and Technician Outlook, Boeing forecasts a need for more than one million new pilots and technicians over the next twenty years.

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