Dale Wilson

Dale Wilson joined the faculty in the Department of Aviation at CWU in September 1996 and retired from full-time service in April 2020. Prior to this, he taught for thirteen years at the Institute of Aviation at Trinity Western University in Canada, where as a Class 1 Flight Instructor he provided academic instruction and flight training to private, commercial, multi-engine, and flight instructor pilot candidates.  He also provided training in mountain flying and tail-wheel operations. He has over 3,600 flight hours, and holds Airline Transport Pilot certification in the United States and Canada as well as FAA-certified flight and ground instructor certificates.

His formal education includes a Master's degree in Aviation Safety and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology (human performance emphasis).  His passion is aviation safety. To that end he teaches courses dealing with flight crew physiology, psychology, and safety; aviation safety management; and aviation weather. Since his arrival at CWU he has published several safety articles and presented papers at national and international conferences on the visual limitations of flight and the problem of VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).  See list of publications and links below.

Books

Wilson, D.R. (2025). Human Factors: Enhancing Pilot Performance, 2^nd ed. ASA Publishers. https://asa2fly.com/human-factors-second-edition/

Wilson, D.R. & Binnma, G. (2016). Managing Risk: Best Practices for Pilots. ASA Publishers. https://asa2fly.com/managing-risk-best-practices-for-pilots/

Journals/Professional Magazines

Wilson, D.R. (December 2016- January 2017). “In the Dark: Unique perceptual errors permeate all phases of night flight,” AeroSafety World, Flight Safety Foundation. https://flightsafety.org/asw-article/in-the-dark/

Wilson, D.R. (October 2016). “Inadvertent Errors: Cognitive limitations in human perception, attention, memory and decision making play a role in many aviation accident,” AeroSafety World, Flight Safety Foundation. https://flightsafety.org/asw-article/inadvertent-errors/

Wilson, D.R. & Binnema, G. (December 2014-January 2015). “Lessons Learned General aviation operators should look to the airlines for proven accident-prevention strategies,” AeroSafety World, Flight Safety Foundation. https://flightsafety.org/asw-article/lessons-learned/

Wilson, D.R. (November 2016). “Failure to Communicate: Hearing — and understanding — the spoken word is crucial to safe flight,” AeroSafety World, Flight Safety Foundation. https://flightsafety.org/asw-article/failure-to-communicate/

Wilson, D.R. & Sloan, T.A. (2003, Fall). “VFR flight into IMC: Reducing the Hazard.” The Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research, Vol 13, No. 1, Article 9). https://commons.erau.edu/jaaer/vol13/iss1/   

Wilson, D.R. & Fallshore, M. (2001). “Optimistic and ability biases in pilots’ decisions and perceptions of risk regarding VFR flight into IMC.” Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, March 5-8, 2001, Columbus, OH. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/OPTIMISTIC-AND-ABILITY-BIASES-IN-PILOTS'-DECISIONS-Wilson-Fallshore/5731468c0d6017b0b91576379e5b5519a4dd3ba2

Wilson, D.R. (1999, Nov-Dec). “Darkness Increases Risks of Flight.” Human Factors & Aviation Medicine. https://flightsafety.org/aerosafety-world/publications/human-factors-aviation-medicine/human-factors-aviation-medicine-1999/