Abstract: To contribute to drafting pilot skill training programs more scientifically and rationally, 30 key factors influencing flight safety skill were identified by visiting experts after analyzing connotation of the skill and considering the results obtained by the predecessors. On the basis of a survey by questionaires, an evaluation index system of flight safety skill was established as a result of an exploratory factor analysis. The system includes 7 primary indices such as pre-flight preparation, flight procedures and skills, flight monitoring and other indices. It also includes 30 secondary indices such as data or documentation preparation, off board inspection, in board inspection and other indices. A confirmatory factor analysis was made for the system. The analysis demonstrates that the effect of crew resource management on flight skill based on safety is stronger than that of any of other factors including the flight monitoring, flight operations or stability, flight procedures and skills, information and decision making, special case handling and the pre-flight preparation, and that the pre-flight preparation had the weakest effect on the skill.

Key words: pilot, flight skill, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, empirical study