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after 30-plus years of aerobatics, I’m still learning (and that’s what I like about it). On the other end, UPRT focuses on awareness, avoidance and maintaining aircraft control by identifying a problem and then correcting it with proven recov- ery techniques. UPRT courses usually take between one and three days, and whether taught in a basic trainer like a Super Decathlon or a higher performance Extra, are transferable to any airplane you fly – assuming it has wings!
People often ask if UPRT taught in simulators is effective. While it certainly can’t hurt, if simulators had properly prepared pilots for loss of control situa- tions, then why are accidents still occur- ring? UPRT training, to be most effective, must be in-cockpit. Positive, negative and lateral G’s and startle factor are near impossible to replicate in a simulator. Psychological effects (sweaty palms and fear) in the airplane can be significantly different than in a simulator. Simulator limitations mean upset recovery is not the same as in an airplane, and can result in a negative transfer of learning.
Sometimes to move forward, you have to go back to the basics. If you feel you are lacking in a skill that you didn’t receive when getting your ratings, then it might be time for you to look for additional training. It is up to us, as pilots, to seek out additional and potentially lifesaving “upset” or aerobatic training. Doing the right thing isn’t always required, like brushing your teeth, but you know it’s the right thing to do. Wolfgang Langeweishe wrote the following in his classic book, “Stick and Rudder” in 1944:
“...there is much of animal training in our flight training methods....for you simply can- not go against your common sense, against your most powerful instincts, except by drill, and more hard drill...”
And nothing has changed since.
Short N Numbers
Patty Wagstaff is a three-time U.S. National Aerobatic Cham- pion, founder of Patty Wagstaff Aviation Safety, LLC and an inter- national airshow pilot. Inductee of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, Patty enjoys teaching pilots how to be more skilled, confident and safe, and to ultimately get more enjoyment out of their flying. Learn more at www.pattywagstaff.com.
Rocky Mountain Propellers, Inc.
June 2019 / TWIN & TURBINE • 15
Confessions of a UPRT Instructor
by Jeff Rochelle, USAF Ret.
As a former fighter pilot, airshow pilot, helicopter pilot and biz jet pilot with a little time flying in the bush, I can honestly say my most rewarding experience in avia- tion is training corporate and GA pilots the finer points of Upset Prevention and Recovery (UPRT). Not only is this training valuable to the recipient, it is personally gratifying to have the opportunity to give back to the aviation community.
A life in aviation is one of continual education and im- provement. We never stop learning and should always maintain or improve our skills. If we are true to ourselves, there is so much to experience and know in aviation in all its forms. To think one has it all figured out is, with a doubt, the riskiest mindset to have. Piloting skills depend on our best mental and physical abilities at all times. We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to always do the right thing; that is, to maintain and improve those skills.
That is exactly what the pilots who come to fly at Patty Wagstaff Aviation Safety, LLC (PWAS) aim to do. Most attend because they recognize the reality of encountering an upset situation. Others realize the onset of “skill decay” after years of flying on autopilot. Each accepts the need to get back to being an aviator and not just a “flight systems man- ager.” Some take the training because their chief pilot requires it – others because the aircraft manufacturer requires it. Some are excited and thrilled while others are filled with trepidation and anxiety. Regardless, every pilot completes the course at his or her own pace. They leave feeling confident and more capable than ever to fly safely and handle any unforeseen situation with the skills taught at PWAS.
The testimonials by our students and the known “saves” we are aware of speak for themselves. I encourage pilots at all levels to step up and “Do the Right Thing.” Get some UPRT and be the most confident and capable pilot you can be.