Loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) is the leading cause of fatal aircraft accidents worldwide. These accidents affect every aircraft type and every segment of aviation. Startle, surprise, and the psychophysiological effects of an aircraft upset can paralyze a pilot’s response unless they are properly trained.
Unlike past killers in aviation, the LOC-I threat persists on any flight, at any time, and pilots can have only a few seconds to initiate the proper flight control inputs to safely recover from an aircraft upset. If mismanaged, an in-flight upset can quickly escalate into a LOC-I event where the pilot is unable to recover from an unintended extreme deviation from the expected flight path due to either a lack of skill, altitude, or time, leading to a serious incident or fatal crash.
Pilot, safety expert, consultant, and aviation journalist Stuart “Kipp” Lau writes about flight safety and airmanship for AIN.
More In Safety
