"Michael" wrote in message
ups.com...

The real hazard, though, is not that the system that the pilot is
depending on will fail. These are fairly new airplanes, and those
systems are reliable. They're not failing a lot. The real problem is
that the system only does what it's built to do. Training makes a
pilot better overall. Substitute systems for training, and you better
hope you have systems to do EVERYTHING the pilot does, because without
the training, you will have an inferior pilot.

Michael

I have kept out of this debate but the above raises a significant
opportunity.
I don't know what exists yet in the US, but in Oz there is some classroom
training associated with flying the Cirrus however I am unaware of any
"glass cockpit" course per se.
Our regulator has kept the syllabus to the days of rag and string and pommie
motors, with a lot of emphasis on technical matters of no real use.
What is needed is a part of the syllabus / course / book on the management
and use of the glass cockpit, based around the current Avidyne/Garmin gear.
It's the way of the future and training should respond accordingly to assist
pilots to make the transition. Particularly us "matures" as the next
generation will be flying these cockpits as the norm.
Brian