EASA Publishes New UPRT Guidelines

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have published upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) requirements to prepare pilots better to face unexpected events that could lead to a loss of control in flight (LOC-I). The requirements are based on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices developed by the EASA to meet the May 2016 mandate for such training by all European airline and commercial business jet operators.

IATA, through its pilot training task force, is developing detailed guidance material in support of the implementation of the provisions by its European members. Patrick Ky, EASA executive director, said that 97 percent of LOC-I accidents over the past five years involved fatalities to passengers or crew.