FAA Modernisation: Why the Future of Training is Competency-Based

The Shift toward Data-Driven Pilot Training

The FAA is moving toward more data-driven training methods, with Evidence-Based Training (EBT) and Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBT-A) as key examples. These approaches aim to use data from airlines to find areas for improvement for both individuals and organisations.

To illustrate, consider golf: your game is strong, but you might still want to focus on your putting to get even better. Rather than spending more time at the driving range on shots you’ve already mastered, it makes sense to target the areas that actually need attention, putting. Pilots are the same. We all have strengths and areas we want to sharpen. This raises the question: why not design training that fits individual or organisational needs instead of just repeating the same manoeuvres every checking or training cycle?

The Data Divergence: North America vs. Europe

Airlines in Europe have recognised that training and checking can involve more than just standard manoeuvres. Since ICAO introduced EBT (Doc 9995) in 2013, many organizations have been able to use nine core competencies (KNO, PRO, COM, FPM, FPA, LTW, PSD, SAW, WLM) to tailor training profiles. Working together, the training department and safety department is crucial to being proactive. Data regarding where we can address trends or looming threats allows us to mitigate those risks before they become incidents.

The value of this approach is reflected in recent safety data. While U.S. airspace remains safe, IATA’s 2025 Safety Report shows a slight increase in the all-accident rate in North America (from 1.49 to 1.68 accidents per million sectors). In contrast, regions that have implemented EBT, like Europe, have seen their rates decrease (from 1.48 to 1.30 accidents per million sectors), achieving a zero fatality risk in 2025.

The FAA and NFTA (National Flight Training Alliance) recently addressed this in their March 31, 2026 report, A Comprehensive Modernisation of Pilot Training Conducted by 14 CFR Part 141 Training Organisations, which advocates for using data to achieve better safety outcomes.

IATA´s Data 2025

The Proactive Safety Loop

In my experience, I have noticed a big improvement in pilot performance since my company started using Mixed EBT. It didn't just help with skills; it gave pilots more confidence. And with more confidence comes better performance. During our sim checks every six months and our captain upgrades, we saw much better results by focusing on these competencies:

·       Problem Solving and Decision-Making (PSD): The ability to identify and solve problems as well as make appropriate decisions.

·       Situational Awareness (SAW): The ability to perceive and comprehend all the relevant information and anticipate what could happen in the near future.

·       Workload Management (WLM): The ability to manage tasks by using available resources to prioritise and complete them in a timely manner.

This approach suggests a move away from "one size fits all" toward a more tailored method. We are all different, and while external threats may apply to everyone, the internal data and specific needs will v

ary between every airline. As IATA Director General Willie Walsh noted regarding Europe's recent safety success:

Europe's aviation sector benefits from robust regulatory oversight, advanced safety management systems and strong cooperation between airlines, regulators and industry organizations, contributing to consistent safety improvements across the region."