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  • What is EBT or Evidence-Based Training

    This is how pilots learn now.

If you like aviation, you probably know that pilot training today is as much about science as it is about skills at the controls. And this is because in aviation, we are constantly developing new procedures to optimise crew training and increase safety standards.

Take Area 100 KSA, for example. This is an ATPL subject in which critical thinking and decision making under pressure are encouraged.

In this post, we’ll be talking about EBT, or Evidence-Based Training. This pedagogical technique is already being used in some stages of the Commercial Pilot Course at One Air. Want to know more? Just read on.


What is EBT: What does it stand for?

EBT stands for Evidence-Based Training and is a training philosophy that uses data and research to guide the way we teach and learn. That is, instead of learning by rote, EBT uses the latest published evidence to figure out how best to train pilots.

This means analysing flight data, simulator sessions and thousands of incident reports, including from the famous aircraft ‘black boxes’, to understand what works and what doesn’t.

In short, we no longer learn only from our own mistakes. We now learn from the mistakes of absolutely everyone else. And it’s amazing.

Why is EBT so important?

In recent decades, a great technological revolution has taken place in aircraft cockpits. We have gone from fully analogue instrumentation to the use of powerful computers that have changed the way flights are monitored forever.

Pilot training was traditionally based on repeating the same procedure over and over again until the skill to carry it out was obtained. This is no longer the case thanks to EBT, which has completely changed this philosophy.

Discover the fascinating history of cockpit instrumentation in our post about the Glass Cockpit.

How is EBT applied in practice?

We already know that Evidence-Based Training focuses on preparing pilots for real-life situations based on data gathered from past experience. But how is this applied?

Well, rather than simply memorising procedures, pilots learn why those procedures exist and how to apply them effectively in different scenarios.

For example, imagine that data shows that pilots often have difficulty with a certain type of crosswind landing. With EBT, we can create specific simulator exercises that focus on this, improving technique in a safe and controlled environment.

Competence assessment through EBT

Now that you know how EBT works, let’s look at what skills can be assessed and how they are to be qualified through this type of training.

There are nine core competencies:

  • Application of Procedures (APK).
  • Communications (COM).
  • Flight Path Management Automation (FPA).
  • Flight Path Management Manual (FPM).
  • Knowledge (KNO).
  • Leadership and Teamwork (LTW).
  • Problem Solving and Decision-Making (PSD).
  • Situation Awareness (SAW).
  • Workload Management (WLM).

These skills are assessed in the simulator sessions that pilots carry out every 6 months, and are graded according to the following scale.

Ratings from 1 to 5 in the EBT, what does each value mean?

In the EBT, competence ratings range from 1 to 5:

  1. The pilot shows ineffective performance resulting in reduced safety margins, and rarely demonstrates the required actions.
  2. Minimal performance necessary for the operation, but which does not result in any unsafe situation.
  3. Adequate performance resulting in a safe situation; the pilot regularly demonstrates most of the required actions.
  4. Effective performance, which results in an increase in safety; the pilot regularly displays all required actions.
  5. An example of good performance, allowing an increase in safety and efficiency; the pilot regularly displays all required actions.

Differences between Evidence-Based Training and the traditional approach

You should be aware that EBT is not intended to replace traditional training; rather, it is intended to form a synergy.

In this way, after studying the theory and standard procedures, it’s possible to take advantage of the scenarios practised in the simulator and evaluate crew skills in the competencies we have seen above.

In this table you can quickly see the differences between each method and you will understand why they are not mutually exclusive, but complementary.

Differences between Evidence-Based Training EBT and the traditional learning method.
EBTTraditional
APPROACHBased on real scenarios and global data analytics.Theoretical knowledge and standardised procedures.
METHODOLOGYAdaptive, personalised.Unique, standardised.
GOALDevelops critical thinking and decision making.Mastering technical skills and procedures.
ASSESSMENTContinuous with feedback.Through proficiency testing.
RESULTSImproves pilot safety, efficiency and competence.Ensures the acquisition of essential piloting skills.

Benefits of applying EBT in teaching

Pilots trained under the EBT philosophy are more competent in the resolution of unforeseen situations; and through this methodology, skills that can be used in all types of situations are enhanced.

  • Greater safety: It helps to develop better decision-making skills and improves emergency response capacity.
  • Increased efficiency: Allows pilots to learn more quickly.
  • Better skills retention: By understanding the why behind procedures, it is easier to remember and apply what is learned in the long term.
  • Reduced error rate: Helps pilots identify and correct common errors, improving performance and safety.
  • Increased confidence: Knowing that they have been trained using the latest published evidence gives pilots a strong sense of confidence in their abilities.

Below is a video in which Major Philip Cullen, Inspector of Training and Flight Operations at the CAA, the UK’s aviation authority, explains the importance and necessity of EBT implementation. Don’t miss it!

Courses in which we apply EBT at One Air

At One Air we strive to offer our students the most modern training, always adapted to the requirements of the companies and the evolution of the sector.

For this reason, we apply EBT assessment in some of our courses, such as the APS MCC course, in which you learn to divide the workload in the cockpit between two pilots and to fly in the same way as in a commercial aircraft.

Are you ready to take off?

It is clear that aviation is constantly evolving. And that’s to be expected – it’s the engine that drives the world!

That’s why EBT’s approach to training is so important; we are making sure that our pilots acquire the skills and knowledge they need to excel in this dynamic and rewarding profession.

We hope you found this article interesting and that it inspires you to begin your journey to becoming a commercial pilot.

And if you want to keep learning, we recommend you take a look at our aviation blog, where you’ll find a wide range of interesting and varied topics. Be warned, it’s addictive – enjoy!

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