What happens when a generation raised on seamless tech steps into the cockpit?

In this episode of More Right Rudder, host Sarah Staudt sits down with Mary Bender, a PhD candidate in human factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, to explore how Gen Z pilots are learning, using, and sometimes misunderstanding automation in modern flight decks.

Bender shares insights from her research on Gen Z student pilots and CFIs navigating advanced systems like the G1000. The conversation reveals a fascinating tension:

This is where effective training becomes critical. Understanding how students learn plays a large role in training outcomes. Bender’s study revealed that Gen Z learners prefer to learn by observing a demonstration followed by hands-on practice - and that early experiences matter. Students who have positive interactions with automation are more likely to trust and use it, while negative experiences can have the opposite effect. 

As automation becomes more integrated and accessible earlier in training, the role of the pilot continues to evolve from operator to manager of systems. Instructors and learners alike must be ready to adapt.

You can read Mary’s study here: https://nafimentor.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bender-et-al.-2025.pdf

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Thank you to Avemco for sponsoring this episode.