Flying Patterns Book

When pilots take charge of the flight deck of an aeroplane, there is rarely anything to suggest that the flight will be their last.  Yet, despite the emergence of training to develop non-technical or behavioural skills, pilots continue to lack important knowledge about how they are susceptible to numerous cognitive weaknesses.  With over 20 years of aviation experience, Nick Dufton uses his considerable airline training experience to show the reader why pilots sometimes get it wrong, whilst offering important coping strategies to ensure they don’t.  Written in plain language, Nick guides the reader through several key accidents including US Airways flight 1549, US-Bangla Airlines flight 211, Qantas flight 32 and Airtours flight 28M.  Focusing on the behaviour of the pilots, the book shows how pilots react to events using highly learned “IF THEN Procedures”.  Nick shows how these procedures are selected by pattern matching what the pilot perceives with the procedures that the pilot remembers.  When accidents happen, it’s usually because the pattern selected was similar but not the same.

Offering valuable tips, Flying Patterns is written for anyone with an interest in flying aeroplanes – from the aspiring pilot to the most experienced instructor.  An ideal career development book, all pilots should have a copy on their bookshelf.

Nick Dufton is an experienced airline instructor and examiner on both aircraft and simulators.  Having spent several years flying and instructing for one of Europe’s largest regional airlines, his expertise includes teaching commercial pilots how to be instructors.