framer, a single-focus solution is unlikely to produce the benefits required.
The vast majority of operations are safe; pilots are able to manage day-to-day situations both in auto and manual flight. This positive view suggests that their training is satisfactory for the conditions faced; thus in incidents/accidents, either the particular crews lacked training (but they were safe enough yesterday), or the situation exceeded the normal standard of training (which otherwise was satisfactory).
There is increasing support for the latter view; if the recent FAA report on automation and the BEA study on go-arounds are read as an overview (noting the dominant components and groupings), then many incidents/accidents indicate that the limits of human performance were reached or exceeded. This was due to the amalgamation of components in operational situations, which require more mental resources than might be available at that time.
In these situations the mental workload was too high, indicating a previous misjudgement of workload or of the situation – we didn’t see it coming. Part of the solution requires changing or removing the unnecessary situational components; simplifying the operational demands (ATC should not request a late change of runway). Another aspect would be to improving the human’s ability to manage workload, by avoiding situations (‘unable’ to accept a late runway change). The latter depends on experience, judgement; airmanship. Thus if training is to be part of the solution it should focus on improving the skills of being a pilot; skills applicable to both auto and manual flight.
Now if data was available for the high workload situations, such that they could be identified in real time, then perhaps pilots would benefit from a workload meter or a situation alert.
Meanwhile we should help pilots to think ahead, and educate the regulators, ATC, operators, etc; all those people who can affect operating situations.
Refs
http://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/2501.pdf
http://www.bea.aero/etudes/asaga/asaga.study.pdf