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Flight Instructor Refresher Course Jorge Valderrama

Lesson 2: Using Scenario-Based Training

Using Scenario-Based Training

Introduction

Scenario-based training (SBT) is an effective way to more quickly foster capable PICs.
 
In this module we’ll review:
What SBT is
Why you should use SBT
Making scenario-based training work
A scenario example

What SBT Is
 

A scenario is a lesson plan that includes a

Practical, realistic setting
Real and/or simulated purpose, and
Real and/or simulated set of risks to be managed
 
The reason a scenario includes a real and/or simulated purpose is to impart
An urgency to complete the flight, and
Consequences for not fulfilling the purpose of the flight
 
Using real-world scenarios as the basis of training
Puts the pilot in everyday situations and circumstances while they are learning physical skills, and
Gets them into the habit of addressing risk management from the start of their flight training
 
Flight instructors have been using the principles of scenario-based training since the beginning of flying.
What the FAA is now encouraging is a more systematic and organized approach to it
 
As a flight instructor, you will want to utilize scenario-based training because it results in a pilot who is better prepared
to be truly pilot-in-command.
It helps provide the risk management skills needed for safe outcomes in flying, including
Risk
Identification
Assessment, and
Mitigation
Critical thinking
Flight management skills
Judgment
Aeronautical decision-making, and
 Single-pilot resource management
 

In “What Pilots Don’t Know”, Flying Magazine interviews John and Martha King about how to change the risk
management culture in general aviation and how we can change the way we instruct to foster this cultural change
and improve the accident rate.

The advantages of SBT are that it

Puts learning into context
Provides better understanding of why you are learning things
Requires correlation in a realistic situation
Requires a coordination of knowledge and skill
Places a greater emphasis on learning risk identification, assessment and mitigation
Teaches pilots to recognize and correct errors
More quickly develops pilot-in-command capabilities
Puts learning maneuvers into context and shows why they are important, and
Is a lot more fun than practice and drill!

In this article, “Accelerated Learning”, John King shows us how avoiding stretching out instruction over a long period
of time and using scenario-based training can help customers associate what they are learning into the big picture
and more easily retain skills and knowledge learned.

While the benefits of SBT are clear, there are some disadvantages, such as
It takes more flight time per lesson
It takes more preparation, effort and imagination on the part of the instructor, and
A customer’s decisions can place the instructor in difficult and unanticipated situations
 
However, some of the disadvantages of using SBT in flight can be overcome by using an aviation training device or
simulator during SBT, where you
Won’t burn as much flight time, and
Can more easily control the variables in the scenario

As a CFI you will benefit from this discussion about SBT because you are a professional in the aviation industry, and
Should strive to maintain the highest level of knowledge and training in the industry
Have a code of ethics you should respect and follow, which includes teaching pilots to
Make safety the number one priority
Develop and exercise good judgment in making decisions
Recognize and manage risk effectively
Seek proficiency in control of the aircraft
Use flight deck technology in a safe and appropriate way
Be confident in a wide variety of flight situations

Although using Scenario-based training requires more thought and effort and may result in less actual flight hours for
you to log personally if you utilize a lot of simulated time, it is an excellent way to contribute directly to GA safety while
also contributing to your professional and ethical conduct.

Why You Should Use SBT

 

Scenario-based training is a departure from traditional flight training.

 
Traditional, maneuver-based training emphasizes performing individual tasks.
The focus is on motor skills
With only a limited emphasis on the development of risk management skills
Leaving a new pilot unprepared to manage the risks of flying in the real-world environment
Requiring them to learn risk management on their own after leaving flight training
The results of this have not been good
 
Scenario-based training
Takes those same individual tasks and incorporates them into scenarios that mimic real-life flying, which
Helps the pilot correlate individual flight maneuvers with the safe accomplishment of a flight, and
Provides the same opportunity to practice tasks
Is built on the principles that
Learning is enhanced when training is realistic, and
Risk management skills are teachable
Helps pilots learn to identify, assess and mitigate risks to make accurate and timely decisions
 
Reality is the ultimate learning situation
And SBT attempts to get as close as possible to this ideal
So the more realistic the training scenario, the better the pilot learns
Core safety habits, and
Risk management skills that can be applied in the real-world

Making Scenario-Based Training Work

 
There are 2 key components of SBT, the
Pre-flight briefing to set up the scenario, and
Post-flight briefing to evaluate the results
 
For SBT to be successful, there must be a
Purpose for the flight, and
Consequences for not completing the flight as planned
 
Before the flight, both you and your customer will need to communicate the
Purpose of the flight
Pressures to complete the flight (real or simulated)
Risks/hazards associated with the scenario (real or simulated)
Scenario destination(s)
Desired outcomes
Possible in-flight scenario changes or deviations (during later stages of the program)
 
You will brief the scenario you want your customer to plan, and they will plan the flight to include the
Reason to go flying (real or simulated)
Route
Destination(s)
Weather
NOTAMs
Desired learning outcomes, and
Risk management plan
 
You will then go over the planned flight scenario with your customer, with the purpose of
Offering guidance on how to make the lesson more effective, and
Asking questions that help you evaluate your customer’s
Knowledge
 Risk management, and
Level of understanding
Open-ended questions are an effective way to accomplish this
 
For the post-flight briefing of a flight scenario you and your customer will
Review the elements of the flight scenario and the scenario outcome
Compare your customer’s performance to the completion standards
Independently evaluate the tasks in the scenario, and
Discuss and compare each of your opinions of the results
 
For evaluating the results it is recommended that instructors use the concept of Learner Centered Grading (LCG)
which includes the
Customer’s self-assessment
Which fosters the habit of healthy reflection and self-criticism that competent pilots have
Detailed debrief by you the instructor
Which compares your evaluation of the flight with your customer’s self-assessment

In this presentation, “Introduction to Scenario-Based Training”, the FAA shows us what SBT is and its many benefits,
gives some practical examples of SBT, and provides guidance on how to conduct SBT.

A Scenario Example
 

The sample scenario below is designed to give you the tools you need to create practical and fun scenarios.
 
Objective:
Learn proper rudder usage, get more comfortable with the airplane controls and learn how to set the airplane
pitch/power combination for your desired phase of flight
 
Where to go:
A point within 30 minutes flight time that is in suitable airspace free from obstructions and dense traffic with the
main goal being area familiarization
 
How to get there:
Pilotage
 
Planned deviations:
None
 
Planned malfunctions:
None
 
Purpose/pressures (real or simulated):
You and a friend have plans to fly to a nearby town to see your mutual friend make his season debut for a semi-
professional baseball team. You are running late and have already had to return home to grab a camera you
forgot because you were in a hurry
 
Risks (real or simulated):
Traffic
 
New this scenario:
Cockpit management
Left turning tendencies
 Aileron/Rudder coordination exercise (30° bank side-to-side keeping the nose at one point on the horizon)
Constant airspeed climbs and descents (note VX, VY, and cruise climb attitudes)
Climbing and descending turns
Descents with/without flaps
Power-off descent at best glide airspeed (note aircraft attitude relative to the horizon)
Descent at approach airspeed in landing configuration
 
Improving customer skills:
Risk management
Preflight inspection
Checklist usage
Operation of systems
Engine starting and warm-up
Positive exchange of flight controls
Taxiing
Engine run-up
Before takeoff check
Normal takeoff and climb - DEMO
Level off
Use of trim
Straight-and-level flight
Area familiarization
Collision avoidance
Medium banked turns
Turn coordination
Back pressure in a turn
Turn entry and roll out
Normal approach and landing – DEMO
After landing, parking and securing
 
At the conclusion of the flight you and your customer would independently evaluate your customer’s performance
Then compare evaluations and discuss the results

The following are FAA resources that offer guidance on using scenario-based training:

FITS Master Instructor Syllabus TAA Scenario Based Instructor Guide

FITS Generic Scenario Based Course Developers Guide

FITS Generic Scenario Based Private/Instrument Certification Syllabus for Piston Aircraft

You may find the King Private Pilot Syllabus as a helpful resource to provide structured training that you
can incorporate scenario-based training into.

Key Takeaways from this Lesson

Scenario-based training is a more effective way to help pilots become capable as PIC because it
Puts your customers in everyday situations while they are also learning physical flying skills
Helps your customers develop risk management skills from the start of training
SBT consists of a
Practical, realistic setting
Real and/or simulated purpose
Creates an urgency to complete the flight and consequences for not completing it
Real and/or simulated set of risks to be managed

The two key components of SBT are the

Pre-flight briefing to set up the scenario
Post-flight briefing to evaluate the results
This includes using Learner Centered Grading

Some of the many benefits of SBT include

Putting learning into context
Coordinating knowledge and skill
Emphasizing the importance of risk management
Making training more fun
Better preparing an applicant for the practical test

Although SBT may

Take more time per flight lesson
Require more preparation and creativity on your part
Place you in unanticipated situations based on a customer’s response to a scenario
You can mitigate some of this by using a flight simulation device

As you can see, scenario-based training

While it may take some getting used to in the transition from maneuver-based training
Can be an effective way to prepare pilots to be competent and capable in the real world

Links for Further Study

John and Martha King Interview:  What Pilots Don’t Know

Article by John King:  Accelerated Learning

FAA’s Introduction to Scenario-Based Training

FITS Master Instructor Syllabus TAA Scenario Based Instructor Guide

FITS Generic Scenario Based Course Developers Guide

FITS Generic Scenario Based Private/Instrument Certification Syllabus for Piston Aircraft

King Private Pilot Syllabus