The Missing Layer in Airline Training
Helping Pilots Understand the Competency Pyramid
Over the past decade, aviation training has evolved significantly.
Frameworks such as Evidence-Based Training (EBT) and Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) have given the industry structured ways to assess pilot performance across a range of competencies.
Most instructors are familiar with the idea that effective performance sits on top of several layers of understanding.
At the base sits knowledge.
Above that sits systems understanding — the logic behind how the aircraft and its automation behave.
Above that sit the pilot competencies that allow crews to manage workload, maintain situational awareness, communicate effectively, and make sound decisions.
At the top sits event management — the ability to manage complex operational situations in the aircraft or simulator.
This layered concept is not new.
In one form or another, it has existed in aviation training for many years.
But an interesting question is worth asking:
How explicitly are pilots taught to understand this structure themselves?
When Pilots Only See the Top of the Pyramid
Most pilots experience the training system primarily through events.
In the simulator they encounter situations such as:
- unreliable airspeed
- engine failures
- automation surprises
- complex operational scenarios
The training focus naturally sits on how those events are managed.
But when pilots are not explicitly taught how the deeper layers support those events, it can sometimes feel like the simulator is testing a collection of loosely connected skills.
What experienced instructors often recognise is that successful performance in these scenarios rarely depends on one factor alone.
It depends on the integration of multiple layers.
The Layers That Support Performance
Consider a complex abnormal event.
At first glance it may appear to be primarily a procedural challenge.
But beneath the surface, several layers are working together.
Knowledge
Pilots must recognise the symptoms of the situation and recall the appropriate procedures.
Systems Understanding
They must understand why those procedures exist and how the aircraft systems will respond.
Competencies
They must apply workload management, situational awareness, communication, and leadership to coordinate the crew response.
When these layers are strong, the event can be managed smoothly.
When one layer is weak, the entire performance can start to unravel.
When the Structure Becomes Visible
Experienced instructors often see this dynamic play out in simulator training.
Two crews may encounter the same scenario.
One crew appears calm, structured, and coordinated.
The other may struggle to maintain control of the situation as workload increases.
At first glance it can look like a difference in “competency”.
But often the difference lies deeper in the pyramid.
The crew that performs well usually has a stronger understanding of the underlying systems and procedures, which allows the competencies to be applied more effectively.
Making the Pyramid Visible to Pilots
The concept of layered performance is well understood by training departments.
But when pilots are explicitly taught to recognise and use this structure themselves, it can change how they approach complex situations.
Instead of reacting to events, they begin to manage them more deliberately.
They understand that:
- knowledge stabilises the foundation
- systems understanding explains why actions work
- competencies integrate the crew response
- and event management sits on top of all three
The simulator then becomes a place where these layers come together in a coordinated way.
Strengthening the Training Conversation
Modern training programs already do an excellent job identifying which events matter most in real-world operations.
The opportunity may lie in helping pilots better understand how the layers beneath those events support effective performance.
When that structure becomes visible, the connection between knowledge, competencies, and operational performance becomes much clearer.
And simulator training becomes less about discovering what works — and more about integrating what pilots already understand.
A Question for Instructors
How explicitly do your training programs discuss the relationship between:
- knowledge
- systems understanding
- competencies
- and event management?
Is this structure something pilots are consciously taught to use, or something they are expected to recognise over time?
It would be interesting to hear how different organisations approach this.