What is EBT (Evidence-Based Training) and CBTA in Aviation

What is EBT and CBTA: The Evidence-Based Training Required by Airlines

Publicado por Rosa M. Márquez el 4 November, 2024

Aviation Training Copywriter & Technical Outreach Specialist

Última actualización: 3 June, 2026

Did you know that airlines no longer measure a pilot’s quality and competencies by how many hours they have flown, but by how they react to the unexpected?

In today’s selection processes (assessments), recruiters look for a specific mental structure. This is where EBT (Evidence-Based Training) and CBTA (Competency-Based Training and Assessment) make the difference between earning the uniform or being left out.

Indeed, in aviation, work is continually being done on the development of new procedures to optimise crew training and increase safety standards. Just like in Area 100 KSA, the ATPL subject where critical thinking and decision-making under pressure are fostered.

But in this post, it is the turn of EBT and CBTA, pedagogical techniques that we already apply in some stages of the Commercial Pilot Course at One Air. Want to know more? We tell you all about it below.

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.

CBTA and EBT: The Standard Required by Airlines

Evidence-Based Training (EBT) does not come alone. It relies entirely on CBTA (Competency-Based Training and Assessment).

While the traditional method focused on repeating manoeuvres mechanically, CBTA evaluates the pilot’s behaviour as a whole.

Currently, commercial airlines operate under this model; therefore, learning under this philosophy right from flight school guarantees that you will speak their same language from day one of your technical interview.

What is the difference between CBTA and EBT?

It is very common to confuse these two concepts, but to understand where commercial aviation is heading, we must view them as a team where each has a distinct role:

CBTA (Competency-Based Training and Assessment)

It is the educational philosophy and answers the question: How should we train and assess?

Instead of measuring a pilot’s success by the hours spent in the air (traditional model), CBTA measures it by their mastery of 9 core competencies (such as communication, leadership, or decision-making). It is the global framework that defines which behaviours ensure a pilot is safe.

EBT (Evidence-Based Training)

It is the scientific tool that feeds that framework and answers the question: What specific scenarios should we introduce into the simulator?

EBT takes real industry data (incident reports, black boxes, audits) and uncovers where the real risks lie today. With that ‘evidence’, we create scenarios in the simulator to test and develop CBTA competencies.

In summary: CBTA defines the human and technical skills you must have, and EBT is the simulator training based on real data that we use for you to master them. Airlines no longer examine you on ‘manoeuvres’; they examine you on your CBTA competencies under EBT scenarios.

Competence Assessment: The 9 Keys to CBTA and 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:

The pilot shows ineffective performance resulting in reduced safety margins, and rarely demonstrates the required actions.
Minimal performance necessary for the operation, but which does not result in any unsafe situation.
Adequate performance resulting in a safe situation; the pilot regularly demonstrates most of the required actions.
Effective performance, which results in an increase in safety; the pilot regularly displays all required actions.
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 the traditional approach and the new competency-based method (CBTA / EBT).
	EBT	Traditional
APPROACH	Based on real scenarios and global data analytics.	Theoretical knowledge and standardised procedures.
METHODOLOGY	Adaptive, personalised.	Unique, standardised.
GOAL	Develops critical thinking and decision making.	Mastering technical skills and procedures.
ASSESSMENT	Continuous with feedback.	Through proficiency testing.
RESULTS	Improves 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!

EBT at One Air: Real and Updated Preparation

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.

At One Air, we strive to offer our students the most modern training, always adapted to airline requirements and the sector’s evolution. For this reason, we apply the EBT and CBTA training philosophy at key stages, such as our APS MCC course, (Airline Pilot Standards).

For this training based on real-world scenarios to be effective, tools of the highest precision are needed. At One Air, we make this possible thanks to our advanced simulation fleet, which includes immersive replicas with 100% real hardware such as the EASA FTD Compliant Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800 NG simulators, and our exclusive Boeing 737 MAX FTD SimLab.

Inside these Glass Cockpit cabins is where our students develop critical thinking and workload management, the exact skills that commercial airlines will certify later on.

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!

What is EBT and CBTA: The Evidence-Based Training Required by Airlines