This database search and evaluation was performed to ascertain what types of situations pilots consider surprising or unexpected. The purpose of the investigation was to determine if natural categories of events emerge from the existing accident, incident, and event reporting data commensurate with the current operational and research focus concerned with unexpected events and aviation safety. The underlying question was whether the involvement of surprise or unexpectedness in events may be a precursor to a loss of attention, increased workload, or other interruptions of ongoing processes, which may then contribute to an unwanted outcome of a maneuver, or an entire flight as revealed in these database reports. The study was also conducted to facilitate the development of a conceptual framework for the study of unexpected events in aviation.

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Loss-of-control in flight was the largest category of fatal commercial air carrier accidents between 1994 and 2003 (Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group, 2004). Loss-of-control accidents were also the leading cause of general aviation accidents in the U.S. in 2003 (AOPA Air Safety Foundation, 2004). These accidents have been on the constant increase for all categories of flight, for the past 25 years. In response to this issue, The Flight Research Training Center was established, in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to provide specific training for pilots on dealing with upset events that can lead to loss-of-control. This paper presents the initial results of an ongoing, longitudinal study investigating (a) user satisfaction, (b) pilots' subjective perceptions, and (c) the pilots' knowledge and procedure retention level of the elements of an upset recovery training program. Suggested protocols and methods to improve the durability of the knowledge and skills learned in the training program are offered. Mandatory requirements for training pilots to respond to unexpected events, unusual attitudes, and/or upset situations which could lead to loss-of-control are inconsistent and in most cases vague. The only requirement for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certification in the U.S. at the Private, Commercial, or Air Transport Pilot level is for the applicant to "exhibit adequate knowledge of recovery from unusual attitudes" (Federal Aviation Administration, 2002, p. 2-27). Operations under U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91, Subpart K, Part 135, and Part 121 air carriers are not required to provide specific upset recovery training. However, there are a number of recommended practices and training programs addressing the loss-of-control issue.