I know from facilitating CRM in a multitude of situations, that in any group
of aviators there is a mix of attitudes, knowledge levels, and abilities. The
good instructor (or facilitator) has to get through those barriers to reach
the students.
You pose the questions from your perspective students: "How can I possibly
include the student as a crewmember if he/she doesn't know how to fly a jet
yet?", "That CRM stuff is just for pilots who are experienced, how can we
possibly use it at this level?", "We must retain the image that the
instructor is absolute authority and all-knowing. Won't CRM procedures make
the student a nag and threaten our authority?". You also speak with
trepidation about the massive shift of paradigm from the days of "I am the
instructor and I am right," to "yes, we must have a productive learning
environment, but I value the part you play in the management of human error."
Seems to me by answering those questions for your instructors, you have
developed the introduction to a really good CRM awareness session. As I
taught classes of many motor, fast mover, and rotary wing pilots in the same
CRM seminar, they each questioned how their use of and need for CRM could be
covered in the same class. And yet, after two days of concentrated effort
together each group found more similarity than difference in their need for
and use of CRM.
Another thought, since you have a relatively captive audience and some very
good simulators, perhaps you could include some practical CRM sorties in the
sims to show the principals and procedures you teach in the classroom. Hope
some of this helps.
Dave Wilson
CRM Program Manager
Hughes Training Inc.