A recent multi-year study conducted at Aviation Performance Solutions (APS) has demonstrated substantial improvements in pilots’ ability to recognize and recover from unexpected airplane upsets after completing an integrated Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) program. The research was independently reviewed and validated by a former NASA/FAA human factors expert, confirming both the methodology and the significance of the results.
The study evaluated student pilots from United Aviate Academy (UAA) before and after completing APS’s comprehensive UPRT program. When faced with a novel, surprise upset event, participants’ successful recovery rate increased from 16.4% before training to 86.6% afterward—a 427% improvement. These findings add to the growing body of evidence showing that structured, all-attitude UPRT meaningfully enhances manual handling skills, situational awareness, and a pilot’s ability to counter the Loss of Control In-flight (LOC-I) threat.
APS developed and delivers the UPRT program integrated into UAA’s ab initio pathway, including academic instruction, all-attitude on-aircraft training in the Extra 300L, simulator reinforcement, and an upset recovery strategy aligned with APS’s EPIC-S2™ framework. By introducing high-fidelity upset training early in a pilot’s development, the program strengthens fundamental airmanship, builds startle resistance, and equips future aviators with reliable recovery skills.
These study results were recently highlighted by Aviation International News (AIN).
Read the full article here:
Upset Prevention Training Producing Big Results at United Aviate
