FAA Stresses Upset Recovery Training

Citing an increase in aircraft accidents involving loss of control (LOC), the FAA yesterday issued Information for Operators 10010, which calls for operators to incorporate upset recovery training. “Although the overall accident rate has decreased, the category of LOC continues to outpace other factors as the leading cause of fatal accidents in the last 20 years,” the FAA said. LOC is defined as “flight outside the normal flight envelope, with nonlinear influences, and with an inability of the pilot to control the aircraft.” Twelve years ago, an FAA-industry working group co-chaired by Boeing, Airbus and the Flight Safety Foundation developed the Airplane Upset Recovery Training Aid as guidance for upset recovery training for flight crews. While the working group was primarily focused on large aircraft, the guidance also applies to those flying smaller swept-wing turbine aircraft. As a result of the steady increase in LOC-related accidents, the FAA “strongly recommends” that operators include applicable sections of the Airplane Upset Recovery Training Aid in their training programs. However, the FAA noted, “Any LOC recommended recovery techniques and procedures provided by a manufacturer for a particular aircraft take precedence over those in the training aid.”