Career Pilot Technology Technical Standards

Purpose Statement

All students in the Career Pilot Technology program are expected to meet certain technical standards which are essential for the successful completion of all phases of the program. The standards contained in this document align with industry requirements and reflect Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulatory guidance. To verify the student’s ability to perform these essential functions, students may be required to demonstrate the technical standards below.

Meeting these technical standards does not guarantee employment in this field upon graduation. The ability to meet the program’s technical standards does not guarantee a student’s eligibility for any certification exams or successful completion of the program.

 

Technical Standard Definition of Standards Examples
Critical Thinking/Problem-Solving Skills Demonstrate abilities sufficient for classroom and airplane cockpit environments.
  • Receive, interpret, and correctly complete assignments (e.g., reading, research, writing, and presentations).
  • Interpret multiple Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
  • Evaluate Aviation accident case studies and identify risk mitigation strategies.
  • Interpret aeronautical charts and apply navigational principles.
  • Apply all available information to federal aviation regulations (FAR’s) in order to make a go/no-go decision to fly.
  • Plan for and rehearse problems in the cockpit.
  • Practice FAA’s DECIDE model for problem-solving (detect, estimate, choose, identify do, evaluate).
Interpersonal Skills Demonstrate abilities sufficient to interact and work collaboratively with individuals from a diverse population in classroom and airplane cockpit environments.
  • Work collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Have respect for those whose appearance, condition, beliefs, and/or values may conflict with your own.
  • Utilize crew resource management (CRM) methodology to work seamlessly with other flight crew members.
Communication Skills Demonstrate abilities sufficient to communicate effectively and professionally when interacting with peers, instructors, pilots, and air traffic controllers.
  • Demonstrate active listening skills.
  • Speak and/or write clearly in preparing documents, creating reports, or writing emails.
  • Follow verbal and written instructions.
  • Make clear and concise radio calls to air traffic control (ATC) and to other pilots.
  • Articulate clearly who is responsible for various pilot duties when flying with another pilot.
Coping Skills Demonstrate abilities sufficient to maintain composure in the potentially stressful classroom and airplane cockpit environments.
  • Balance internal needs and external demands.
  • Resolve conflicts in the classroom and airplane environment.
  • Prioritize tasks to meet deadlines.
  • Establish and adhere to personal minimums checklist for single-pilot instrument flight rules (IFR) flight conditions.
  • Possess the ability to control emotions in difficult situations and avoid aggressive behavior.
Mobility/Motor Skills Demonstrate abilities sufficient to move in one’s environment with ease and without restriction.
  • Move safely within a classroom or airplane environment.
  • Sit at a desk or pilot (crew) station for up to three hours with breaks.
  • Possess typing skills required to use a computer for completing assignments, taking exams/quizzes, and producing/downloading weather or flight briefings.
Auditory Skills Demonstrate abilities sufficient to comprehend spoken language, detect building alarms, and meet FAA’s medical standards.
  • Discern directions from instructors or supervisors in the classroom, online, and office environments.
  • Comprehend conversation via video whether in person or online.
  • Participate effectively in web-based meetings.
  • Perceive a fire alarm.
  • Pass a flight physical conducted by an FAA-certified aeromedical examiner (AME) that includes demonstrating the ability to hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room using both ears at a distance of 6 feet from the examiner with the back turned to the examiner.
  • Medical Standards and Certification
Visual Skills Demonstrate abilities sufficient to read printed and written instructions, work on a computer for up to three hours with breaks, and meet FAA’s medical standards.
  • Read textbooks, assignments, reports, and exams/quizzes.
  • Use computers to conduct research, complete assignments, produce reports, take exams/quizzes, and produce/download weather/flight briefings.
  • Read and respond to emails on the computer.
  • Pass a flight physical conducted by an FAA-certified aeromedical examiner (AME) that includes demonstrating the following:
  • distant visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.
  • near visual acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.
  • ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties.
  • Medical Standards and Certification
Tactile Skills Demonstrate abilities sufficient to use computers and operate various classroom and aircraft cockpit equipment.
  • Perform duties on a computer related to all academic and workplace tasks.
  • Utilize various classroom equipment, e.g., overhead projector, copy machine, etc.
  • Operate aircraft flight controls, e.g., yoke, rudder pedals, flaps, throttle, etc.
Environmental Demonstrate abilities sufficient to work effectively and safely in an active and possibly changing environments.
  • Prioritize requests and meet demands.
  • Multitask using different operating systems.
  • Perform duties in areas that may be close, crowded, and/or noisy.
  • Adapt to changes in class or in the aircraft.
  • Demonstrates capability to act as “pilot in command,” being responsible for and having final authority as to, the operation of an aircraft.
Emotional/Behavioral Demonstrate abilities sufficient to maintain composure in stressful situations and assume responsibility and accountability for actions.
  • Calmly receive feedback and criticism.
  • Demonstrate honesty and integrity beyond reproach.
  • Adapt to changing environments and/or stress.
  • Control emotions for the benefit of others.
  • Exercise independent judgment to effectively solve problems and make informed decisions.
  • Possess sufficient emotional health to perform under stress and exercise good judgment to complete all assignments or pilot duties.
  • Conduct routine self-evaluation as to the FAA’s five hazardous flight attitudes categories (anti-authority, invulnerability, macho, impulsivity, land resignation).

 

In the case of an otherwise qualified individual with a documented disability, appropriate and reasonable accommodations will be made unless doing so would fundamentally alter the essential training elements, cause undue hardship, or produce a direct threat to the safety of the patient or student.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is invested in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Support Services is part of Student Services and is located in the K. Ray Bailey Student Services Center. For detailed information or to request accommodations visit Support Services. An appointment is recommended prior to enrollment in order to discuss any special concerns.