Upset Prevention Training Producing Big Results at United Aviate

United Airlines’ investment in upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) for its ab initio students is beginning to show some impressive results. UPRT programs prepare pilots to counter the loss-of-control-in-flight (LOC-I) threat—the leading cause of fatal aviation accidents. In general aviation, on average, the statistics are alarming; there is one fatal LOC-I accident every four days.

A recent study indicates that United Aviate Academy (UAA) pilots are much better prepared to recover from a startle or surprise airplane upset event after completing its integrated UPRT program. The independent research, validated by a former NASA/FAA human factors expert, suggests that UPRT introduced early in a pilot’s training contributes to “a transformational improvement in applied recovery skills.”

Comparing the results from the beginning of the training program to graduation, the study participants’ performance in recovering from a novel unexpected upset improved by more than 400%. This study provides another data point that validates the effectiveness of a comprehensive UPRT program. In addition to learning life-saving strategies that mitigate the LOC-I threat, UAA students completing the program receive their CFI Spin Endorsement in an all-attitude aerobatic aircraft.

UAA—United Airlines’ wholly-owned flight training academy in Goodyear, Arizona—formally began the UPRT program for its students in 2022. The program is administered by Mesa, Arizona-based Aviation Performance Solutions (APS), a global UPRT specialist. APS provides its expertise in UPRT program development and delivery to UAA.

“At United Aviate Academy, we pride ourselves on providing students with exceptional training throughout their education,” said United Aviate Academy CEO Michael Hale, discussing the integration of the UPRT program into the curriculum. “This training is ideally completed between the instrument and commercial certificates, offering students a deeper understanding of safety and situational awareness during aircraft maneuvers. Additionally, the program includes a spin endorsement, a requirement for the initial CFI certification. The APS training equips our students with these critical skills, ultimately making them safer pilots.”

UAA is the only flight academy owned by a major airline in the U.S. The program is designed to take a pilot with zero flight time through advanced certifications and ratings, which may ultimately lead to employment as a first officer at United Airlines. Students learn to fly on a growing fleet of Cirrus SR20 single-engine airplanes. UAA’s campus encompasses 340,000 sq ft with multiple hangars, classrooms, and dormitories for student housing.

APS developed a customized integrated UPRT program that is unique to UAA and tailored to the flight school student; the program includes 11 hours of combined online and classroom instruction, three instructional flights in the all-attitude-capable Extra 300L, and one hour in an advanced “class-specific” simulator. Graduates completing the full program earn the APS Gold Standard Qualification (Flight School Operations) and receive their CFI spin endorsement.

UPRT at Aviate Academy

One of the most important aspects of UAA’s UPRT program is the on-aircraft instruction that each student receives in an aerobatic-capable airplane, taught by highly competent APS instructors. The foundation of this training is APS’ Every Pilot in Control Solution Standard (EPIC-S2) framework that provides comprehensive guidelines for implementing effective UPRT programs. EPIC-S2 is an integrated model that includes six critical factors: instructor qualifications (the elite instructor), program development (integrated program), program duration (intensity), industry compliance (best practices), training platforms, and other elements such as initial and recurrent training.

“Not all UPRT is the same. The results at United Aviate Academy reflect a program APS designed specifically for the flight school environment and refined over 25 years,” APS CEO Paul “BJ” Ransbury said. “It’s a proprietary integration of methods, tools, and mentoring that our elite instructors deliver student by student under the EPIC-S2 framework. That’s why UAA students demonstrated performance improvements far beyond what conventional training can achieve—transformational gains that redefine readiness from the very start of a pilot’s career.”

The UAA UPRT program is fully aligned with current FAA and ICAO training guidelines and practices. A core component, according to APS, is its “all-attitude upset recovery strategy”—a scenario-based methodology designed to ingrain effective, reflexive pilot response under dynamic, high-stress conditions.

Introducing intensive UPRT to pilots at the beginning of their career strengthens their aeronautical decision-making skills, improves flight path awareness, enhances manual aircraft handling skills, creates an awareness of the stall/spin escalation scenario, and implements the “push-roll-power-stabilize” upset prevention and recovery strategy as a proven method that saves lives. By design, UAA’s UPRT program translates directly to United’s mainline training, since each is based on the same philosophies, procedures, and strategies to counter the LOC-I threat.  

APS executive v-p of standards and compliance Clark “Otter” McNeace added, “What makes this training unique is its design. APS engineered it for flight school students to move beyond procedures into reflexive, under-pressure performance. With EPIC-S2 principles guiding every session, our instructors mentor each student to the highest standard.”

McNeace added this produces results: “The outcome is clear—UAA students are now performing at levels once thought out of reach in pilot development, setting a new benchmark for safety readiness at the flight school stage and beyond.”

Research Findings

Over a three-year period, APS conducted a study to measure the performance of UAA students during a unique and unexpected in-flight upset event. Students were evaluated before UPRT training began and again upon the completion of training. To “pass” the evaluation, it was required to successfully recover from the upset event without losing control of the aircraft.

The most compelling outcome of the in-flight evaluations to recognize and counter startling airplane upset events involved 67 students who completed the entire UPRT program, from academics to on-aircraft and simulator training. Results for this group, before training, were a 16.4% success rate. After the completion of training, the same group encountered a unique (never demonstrated) upset event, and the results improved to 86.6%, a marked improvement of 427%.  

Of interest, APS conducted a similar study in 2007 and 2008 that showed similar results by professional pilots trained through traditional flight school and type rating programs. The pass rate of these pilots—before UPRT training—ranged from 15% to 25%, which is in line with the results from the UAA students.

Results of the UAA UPRT study were validated by Aviation Research, Training, and Services president Janeen Kochan, a former NASA and FAA human factors researcher. “The United Aviate UPRT initial study was one of the first studies on the effectiveness of UPRT for ab initio pilot cadets. This study was well-constructed, had an adequate sample size for analysis, and employed objective measures,” Kochan said. “The research evaluators were all experts in the evaluation of pilot skills and experienced in the conduct of research protocols, adding specificity and consistency to the measures used. The results clearly show that both the ground and flight UPRT received by the cadets improved their understanding, prevention, and in-flight recovery skills.”

The study validated the effectiveness of the UAA UPRT program. Upon completion of the training, students were able to successfully demonstrate the ability to counter the psychophysiological effects of an in-flight upset event and apply the correct recovery strategy.

Spin Endorsement

Spin training and, most recently, the spin endorsement for CFI candidates have been hot topics in general aviation flight training. Kochan, in addition to being a researcher, is a designated pilot examiner (DPE) with a background flying everything from light aircraft to heavy jets. For each UAA student who completes the UPRT program, they are well-equipped to tackle the CFI check ride based on the training and experience gained at UAA and APS. According to Kochan and many other DPEs, this often is not the case.

Kochan said, based on her experience, “Ninety-nine percent of the time an initial flight instructor applicant will present documentation of their ‘spin training’ to satisfy (a) the requirement in 14 CFR 61.183(i) and (b) Area of Operation X, Task I in the Flight Instructor for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards (ACS). It is important to note that per 14 CFR 61.183(i), the flight instructor needs to demonstrate instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery procedures.

“And, per the ACS, the guidance is clear: ‘To determine the applicant understands spins, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.’”

The requirements for CFI candidates, as outlined in the regulations and ACS, seem fair, considering stalls and spins are a factor in so many general aviation accidents. CFIs need to be stall and spin avoidance experts and possess the skills required to recover from an inadvertent stall or spin; this cannot be accomplished in a single flight.

“In 95% of the practical tests, there is a rudimentary understanding of spins and a memorized acronym for the recovery. In most cases, the applicant does not have a grasp of spin training materials, nor do they remember a ground training syllabus used in their own training,” she said. “Except in the cases where an aerobatic aircraft was used and the training provider incorporated UPRT into the program, the training flight was less than one hour (usually .7 to .8) in a Cessna, Diamond, or other aircraft certified for spins. I have heard every rendition of how to enter an intentional spin, and many of the procedures are contrary to the aircraft’s operating documents.”

CFI candidates are issued a Notice of Disapproval for an unsatisfactory spin task for several reasons. According to Kochan, it is straightforward. “The ACS has a risk management element regarding spins in every task. The applicant explains and teaches how to identify and manage risk associated with low-altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT),” she said. An unacceptable response is, “If a student gets me into a spin, I will push the [autopilot's level] button.”

Kochan concluded, “In summary, the spin endorsement training is in dire need of enhancement. I applaud the training organizations taking the initiative to use proper equipment, meaningful training tools, and instructors experienced in teaching in the expanded envelope for their spin training. One percent of the applicants will bring an airplane certified for spins to teach and demonstrate spins on the practical test.”

United Airlines’ investment in UAA’s UPRT program provides students with transformative and comprehensive training, making each pilot better and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to recover from a LOC-I event that will ultimately save lives. Data support the effectiveness of a well-designed on-aircraft UPRT program and prove that it is never too early to start.