Similarities and Differences Among Superior, Marginal, and Eliminated Undergraduate Pilot Training Students

This report compares interview data from highly successful and marginally successful graduates with similar data from students eliminated from undergraduate pilot training (UPT). The objectives of the study were: to delineate factors which distinguishes the successful from the unsuccessful student, to identify problems of UPT which impact generally upon all students alike, and to denote aspects of the UPT program which may warrant modification. Information from interviews with 119 graduates were compared with information from interviews with 114 eliminees. Further, for problems related to flying training comparisons were made among data from 61 students who graduated in the top quarter of their class, 58 who graduated in the lowest quarter of their class, and 28 students eliminated for flying deficiency. Successful students differed from eliminees in amount of previous flying experience, less problems learning to land aircraft, less loss of confidence, and fewer changes of IPs (Instructor Pilots), had less criticism from their IPs, listed more problem aspects of the UPT program and had more realistic expectations about the demands of UPT. Problems seen generally by all students related to: problems with poor IP teaching characteristics; difficulties learning the overhead landing pattern; formation; instruments; grades; and IP-student relationships. Recommendations suggest studies of IP training and modifications of techniques for teaching some of the flying skills.