Back Course to the Future — IFR Mastery Scenario

Back Course to the Future

#185 | JANUARY 2026

Standardization and experience are cornerstones for professionalism on the flight deck. The potential dark side of those same traits can be complacency and expectation bias, not to mention overconfidence. Now you have seconds to figure out a situation that seems to make no sense—and there’s precious little room for error.

Catherine Cavagnaro

Catherine Cavagnaro (CFI-I, MEI, ATP, DPE) offers spin and aerobatic instruction in addition to her position as Professor of Mathematics at Sewanee. She is a monthly contributor to AOPA Pilot Magazine and serves as a Designated Pilot Examiner for the Nashville FSDO. Catherine is the 2020 FAA Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year and the 2018 FAA Safety Representative of the Year. In 2018 she was inducted into the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame.