AINsight: Does Pilot Flight Time Equate to Competency? | Aviation International News

AINsight: Does Pilot Flight Time Equate to Competency?

Not all logged flight hours are created equal

Pilots in cockpit — (Photo: AdobeStock)

By Stuart “Kipp” Lau • Contributor - Safety

September 25, 2026

The Royal Aeronautical Society last month published “The Competency Conundrum,” a thought-provoking piece by Russell Patterson. In this paper, he poses a question: “If not all flight hours are created equal, does this mean there are varying levels of competency?”

That’s a great question. Reading Patterson’s submission led me to one conclusion: we got it wrong. For decades, the aviation industry has used an ineffective measurement—total flight hours—to judge pilot competency.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

Stuart “Kipp” Lau

Contributor - Safety

About the author

Pilot, safety expert, consultant, and aviation journalist Stuart “Kipp” Lau writes about flight safety and airmanship for AIN.

See more by this author

Battery Fire at Archer’s San Jose Lab Forces Evacuation

Three people were hurt and about 100 evacuated after a test pack overheated

Archer’s battery pack production line

Piper PA-46 Owners Enjoy PMOPA Convention Benefits

M-Class owners gathered in Colorado Springs for annual convention

PMOPA Convention at Cutter Aviation Colorado Springs

Wyvern Pushing Safety as Hot Topic during NBAA-BACE

Wyvern COO Andy Day is incoming chair of NBAA’s safety committee

Changing the Gotta-land-it Mindset

Runway overruns cut across aircraft types and crews

Falcon on runway

MD Onboard Absorbs STAT-MD’s Aviation Services

Move creates a major force in aviation medicine consulting

MD Onboard control center

Confusion Reigns after FAA Drops Single-pilot Exemption

Questions arising over FAA's review of pertinent accidents

Article preview image

FAA Rescinding Cessna Citation Single-pilot Exemptions

Action comes after a review found widespread noncompliance and safety issues

Citation jet bird strike through flock of birds

Thales Opens Center To Elevate Safety Culture

Facility initially serves Bordeaux campus but will expand to other locations

Thales Flight Safety Center