Personnel Training and Licensing Panel: Automation Study Report

Source: ICAO Personnel Training and Licensing Panel

The Personnel Training and Licensing Panel: Automation Study Report (Nov 2023) by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) addresses automation dependency in commercial air transport operations, focusing on pilots in fixed-wing aircraft. The report is a result of an extensive study that examines the growing reliance on automated systems and the implications for manual flight skills, pilot monitoring, and aviation safety.

Key components of the report include:

1. Automation Dependency: The report identifies automation dependency as a significant safety concern worldwide. Contributing factors include operator policies that prioritize automation, a lack of regulatory guidance on maintaining manual flight skills, and pilots’ decreasing confidence in manual flying abilities.
2. Vulnerabilities in Automation: The report highlights several issues, including mode confusion, data entry errors in the Flight Management System (FMS), and unexpected automation behaviors (known as “automation surprises”). These vulnerabilities continue to challenge flight crews during routine emergencies.
3. Manual Flight and Automation Integration: Errors in manual flight operations (MFO) are still prevalent, especially when pilots transition from automated systems. The report notes that many operators and regulators treat automation and manual flight as distinct tasks, though some consider them as part of a continuum.
4. Monitoring and Pilot Responsibilities: The role of the Pilot Monitoring (PM) is critical, but the report finds inconsistencies in how monitoring duties are defined and executed. Policies addressing monitoring of the aircraft, automation systems, and other crew members vary across operators and regulators.
5. Operator Policies and Manufacturer Assumptions: Operator policies on automation use are often inconsistent, with some discouraging manual flight while others emphasize its importance. Manufacturer assumptions about how pilots interact with automated systems also do not always align with real-world operations, leading to gaps in policy and training.
6. Regulatory Gaps: The report identifies a lack of standardization in key definitions such as “Flight Path Management” and “Manual Flight Operations,” contributing to variability in how automation and manual skills are addressed in training and regulation.

In conclusion, the report calls for stronger regulatory guidance, clearer operator policies, and improved pilot training to address automation dependency and integrate manual flying skills more effectively into modern flight operations. It suggests potential amendments to ICAO licensing and operational requirements to reflect these needs.

For a look at the full report, follow the link to the reference document:

Personnel Training and Licensing Panel: Automation Study Report