Delta Air Lines has halved precursor airplane upset conditions following the implementation of its upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) program, according to Aviation Performance Solutions (APS). Because loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) is a leading cause of fatal aviation accidents worldwide, UPRT programs have been required at all airlines since March 2019.
During the recent 2023 UPRT Safety Summit for Professional Pilots Worldwide event hosted by APS, Delta Air Lines lead UPRT subject matter expert (SME) Brian Sims presented data showing that an active UPRT program—one that is properly implemented, managed, and executed—can effectively reduce the number of precursor airplane upset flight conditions. Sims, a Boeing 757/767 pilot and instructor, said the 50 percent reduction came from a study using FOQA data analyzing five million flights over a five-year period.