There’s a truth we rarely acknowledge in aviation: most pilots have never been taught how to train.

Yes, we log hours. Yes, we memorize procedures. Yes, we pass tests. But when it comes to the craft of learning—the skill of acquiring, retaining, and applying knowledge effectively and efficiently—most of us are flying blind.

And that matters. Because training is no longer a once-and-done exercise. It’s continuous. From cadet to captain, recurrent checks to aircraft transitions, staying sharp means learning well. Yet the vast majority of pilots approach training the way they always have: re-reading, highlighting, and summarizing manuals—hoping it sticks.

It rarely does.

This NOTAM is about changing that. It’s about learning how to train.

Most Pilots Train Like It's 1999

Here’s what the average pilot does when preparing for a check:

• Ask colleagues for the “instructor version.”

• Open the FCOM or FCTM.

• Re-read key points.

• Maybe summarize them into notes.

• Maybe rewatch the CBTs on systems.

• Drill limitations the night before.

It feels productive. But it isn’t effective.

Decades of learning science have shown that these methods—while common—are passive. They lead to short-term familiarity, not long-term retention. And when the pressure's on in the sim, familiarity isn’t enough.

We need training methods that actually work. The kind that build deep, flexible, retrievable knowledge. The kind supported by research, not tradition.

What The Science Says

Across the board—from neuroscientists like Andrew Huberman to authors like Barbara Oakley and Henry Roediger—the research points to the same foundational insights:

1. Effort is the engine of learning. If it feels too easy, it probably isn’t working. Struggle signals engagement. That’s where the gains happen.

2. Active recall beats passive review. Testing yourself—without looking at the answer—forces the brain to retrieve. That retrieval strengthens memory.

3. Spaced repetition trumps cramming. You remember more by studying less, over time. Revisiting information at increasing intervals locks it in.

4. Interleaving builds flexibility. Mixing up topics and types of problems—instead of block-learning one system at a time—leads to better transfer and application.

5. Sleep isn’t optional. The night after learning is when memory consolidation peaks. Poor rest = poor retention.

These are just a few of the evidence-backed protocols that outperform what most pilots still rely on.

The Testing Effect: Use It, Don't Fear It

The act of testing isn’t just for assessment—it is the learning.

In one study cited by Huberman, students who studied briefly and took multiple tests retained far more than those who studied for longer but tested less. Those who tested more felt less confident, but performed better. Why? Because retrieval strengthens neural connections.

So the goal isn’t to look over a diagram until it "feels familiar."

The goal is to close the page and try to recreate the diagram from memory.

If you can't, great. Now you know what to focus on.

That’s learning.

The Myth of Learning Styles

Many pilots believe they learn best by watching, reading, or summarizing. But research consistently shows that how you prefer to learn has little to do with what actually works best.

The key isn’t tailoring material to your "style."

The key is engagement.

And the most engaging methods are:

• Self-testing

• Elaborative interrogation (asking "why" things work the way they do)

• Teaching others

• Explaining concepts aloud

These strategies work not because they match a style, but because they activate the brain deeply.

Your Brain Learns By Doing, Struggling, and Sleeping

Here’s what happens when you train:

1. You expose your brain to new input.

2. You struggle to make sense of it, to recall it, to apply it.

3. You sleep, and your brain consolidates that input into longer-term structures.

Skip the struggle? You skip the encoding.

Skip the sleep? You skip the consolidation.

As Huberman puts it: "Effort is the cornerstone of learning."

How to Train Like It Matters

If we take the science seriously, here’s what great training should look like:

1. Immediate Recall After Study

Don’t just read—retrieve. After a study session, close your notes and try to recall key points. Even better: write or say them aloud.

2. Spaced Repetition

Review content on Day 1, then again on Day 3, Day 6, and so on. Apps like Anki or Ai3X are built around this principle. It works.

3. Interleaving

Don’t block-study one system for hours. Instead, mix topics: electrical, hydraulics, flight controls. Your brain learns to distinguish and adapt.

4. Teach What You Learn

Explaining a system to someone else is one of the fastest ways to find gaps in your understanding. Use voice memos if no one's around.

5. Respect Sleep

The night after your study session isn’t the time to binge Netflix. It’s the time to protect your sleep like you protect your license. That’s when memory gets locked in.

6. Use Stress Wisely

A little pressure helps learning—it sharpens focus and increases neuroplasticity. Simulate this with timed quizzes, chair flying, or memory items under time pressure.

What This Means for Pilots

When you sit down to study, you’re not just reviewing content.

You’re shaping your future performance.

• Want real proficiency? Train recall.

• Want to troubleshoot smarter? Train flexibility.

• Want to pass your next sim with confidence? Train with effort, spacing, and intent.

And when you don’t train effectively, you’re not just wasting time.

You’re reinforcing shallow memory, fragile recall, and high-pressure hesitation.

In aviation, the cost of poor training isn’t just performance. It’s safety.

Why Ai3X Is Built This Way

At Ai3X, we didn’t just want to digitize manuals or simplify systems. We wanted to create the first pilot training app built around how the brain actually learns.

That’s why Ai3X integrates:

• Spaced repetition to improve memory

• Active recall through testing modes

• Knowledge summaries designed for insight, not overload

• AI chat to reinforce retrieval and explanation

It’s not magic. It’s science. And it’s what every pilot deserves.

Because learning how to fly is only half the job.

Learning how to train?

That’s the part that lasts a career.

References & Further Reading

• Huberman Lab Podcast “Optimal Protocols for Learning and Studying,” August 26, 2024

• Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Brown, Roediger & McDaniel

• Learning How to Learn by Barbara Oakley & Terrence Sejnowski

• Learn Like a Pro by Oakley & Rogowsky

Most pilots have never been taught how to train—Ai3X applies proven brain science to turn training into lasting skill.