Aviation training glossary
CBTA — competency-based training and assessment — is a regulator-recognised approach in which pilots are trained and assessed against a defined set of competencies and observable behaviours, rather than only passing or failing individual manoeuvres. It produces a richer, evidence-based picture of pilot performance.
ICAO defines nine core competencies for pilots, each with a set of observable behaviours that an instructor or examiner grades against:
Traditional checking asks whether a manoeuvre was passed. CBTA asks why a pilot performed as they did, capturing the underlying competencies and the evidence behind each grade. That makes training targeted and defensible, and it produces data an operator can analyse across its whole pilot body. CBTA is the foundation for evidence-based training (EBT).
CBTA software such as Waypoint enforces the competency framework, captures grades and structured narratives at the point of assessment, and turns completed events into analysable data — replacing paper forms and spreadsheets.
Frequently asked questions
CBTA stands for competency-based training and assessment. It is an approach in which pilots are trained and assessed against defined competencies and observable behaviours rather than only pass or fail on individual manoeuvres.
ICAO defines nine core competencies for pilots: application of knowledge; application of procedures and compliance; communication; flight-path management (manual); flight-path management (automation); leadership and teamwork; problem solving and decision making; situation awareness; and workload management.
See CBTA and EBT running in Waypoint, configured to your regulator. Book a 30-minute demo.