The Importance of Single Pilot Resource Management for Light Business Aircraft Pilots

Author: Robert A. Wright

If you operate a light business aircraft (LBA) as a single pilot, you need to be proficient in the skill set known as Single Pilot Resource Management (SRM). Let’s first define these terms and describe their importance.

What is a Light Business Aircraft?

An LBA is any turbine- or piston-powered high-performance aircraft that is used for business or personal transportation. The worldwide LBA fleet numbers in the tens of thousands and increasingly includes a new generation of advanced technology aircraft.

SRM is a set of higher-level pilot skills that emphasize the interface between a single pilot and the aircraft. These skills include risk management, automation management, task and workload management, and situational awareness.

SRM and Crew Resource Management

The skills embodied by SRM are similar, though not identical, to those encompassed by Crew Resource Management (CRM), and were developed using CRM concepts as a base.

While CRM emphasizes the teamwork required for a multi-pilot crew to perform safely and efficiently, SRM must account for the fact that LBA are typically operated by a single pilot. For example, the Threat and Error Management (TEM) concepts developed for CRM embrace coordinated crew procedures. Under SRM, it is assumed that most LBA are operated with single pilot crews and that, in the absence of cockpit teamwork, these pilots must embrace a different set of procedures to manage risks, automation, and other flight tasks.

Training in SRM

Proficiency in SRM is especially important because root cause analysis of accident data suggests that factors such as poor risk management are the primary drivers of fatal accidents in LBA and other non-air carrier operations. As much as 75% of fatal accidents are caused by poor risk management. For example, many accidents are due to loss of control, controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), and other events that in reality may be caused by poor risk management. Similarly, poor automation management, poor task and workload management, and loss of situational awareness may be factors in a large number of fatal accidents.

Typically, SRM skills are not emphasized in general aviation and LBA pilot training doctrine, standards, and curricula. Such training programs often emphasize traditional manoeuver-based skills and rote knowledge. The advent of high fidelity simulators has improved technical training, but even in these cases SRM skills are not part of most core training curricula at training centres.

Note: TrainingPort.net, in cooperation with Crew Resource Management LLC, now offers a complete SRM course available for purchase through our storefront. The course provides business aviation-specific training that covers risk management, automation management, task and workload management, situational awareness, and other topics relevant to single-pilot LBA operations.

Robert A. Wright is the president of Wright Aviation Solutions, LLC. He is a member of the leadership team of Crew Resource Management, LLC, which has been providing comprehensive CRM training to corporate flight departments for over four years.