PPRuNe Forums - Aptitude & Learning

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Aptitude & Learning

I heard an interview today on BBC radio 4 with Jon Culshaw, who is an English impressionist and comedian. Having given up learning to play the piano at the age of seven (grade 2), he restarted learning the piano in his late forties, he now has been signed up with a major label and performed at concerts playing the piano.

This started me thinking if we underate the ability to learn, say after the age of thirty. I have to say, I have always held the opinion that older pilots take longer to train, is is that just a false perception on my behalf, and perhaps older students are less confident.

This is also leads me onto pilot aptitude, I have always wondered if playing musical instruments and playing coordinated sport such as tennis would give a pilot candidate a higher level of coordination prior to pilot training?

Finally, I think we all know teamwork and people skills are important as an element of CRM, yet lacking in some pilots I have known. A few days ago in the argument in UK media about rugby football, a spokesman stated that the sport improves teamwork. I am very sceptical if playing foorball, rugby or rowing eights significantly improves teamwork or people skills. I would add that probably the Duke of Edinburgh sheme would be more likely to improve people skills and teamwork skills.

Quote:

This is also leads me onto pilot aptitude, I have always wondered if playing musical instruments and playing coordinated sport such as tennis would give a pilot candidate a higher level of coordination prior to pilot training

Worked for me. I played the tin whistle and ping pong and got into the RAAF as a pilot :ok:

Learning a new type now at 61 would not upset me. Hard work will be required but that is what I'm paid for. The clever little whizzy bits will come with time but the basic 'houses get bigger' stuff doesn't change. But with age comes the knowledge and experience that some things are not important and others are not. This enables you to focus on what is critical and then to move on. Slow, stupid? Yes, but I don't take any longer to train than younger colleagues and get through training courses on plan. But if it looks like I'm slowing up I'll start learning the piano, take up juggling and start crapping in a ditch half way up Snowdon to speed up my learning ability.