Seaplane pilots get ratings in a weekend but must navigate a landing surface completely unfamiliar to land airplanes. The same goes for flying a multiengine airplane, which can also be learned in a long weekend. When both engines are operating, the training feels adequate. But as soon as there is a problem, those few hours will seem woefully inadequate.

Learning to fly a multiengine airplane introduces many new concepts and builds on some of those already learned. Almost all multiengine airplanes have retractable landing gear, constant-speed propellers, and other systems found on complex single-engine airplanes.

But expect to learn more complex fuel systems, new environmental systems in the form of a dedicated heater, and possibly other new features, such as auto-feathering, rudder and aileron trim, and more. Regardless of the type of airplane you train in, new operational concepts will form the core of the course.

Twin Engine Training: Minimum Controllable Airspeed

When one of an airplane’s engines stops working, it creates a dangerous situation called asymmetric thrust. Imagine sitting in the middle of a merry-go-round while a friend begins to push on one side and you get the idea. Rudder counteracts asymmetric thrust, but at some point the pedal is to the stops and the airplane still wants to yaw. That’s minimum controllable airspeed (MCA).

When the airplane is flying faster and there is lots of airflow over the rudder, a multiengine airplane will fly just fine on one engine. But as that airflow slows down, the operating engine begins to win the push and pull, and the airplane will yaw, roll, and ruin your day. MCA is denoted by a red line on the airspeed indicator.

Engine Failure Drill in Twin Engine Training

The mantra—identify, verify, feather—is something multiengine pilots can recite decades after their accelerated twin engine training. When an engine quits, the pilot identifies the bad engine by noting which leg is just chilling while the other is hammering on the rudder pedal.

She then verifies this is the correct side by pulling back on the throttle of that engine (dead leg, dead engine), hopefully noting that nothing changes, and finally, feathers the propeller on that same engine by pulling the propeller control all the way back. It sounds easy, but imagine doing it at 100 feet above the ground looking up at rising terrain.

Staying sharp as a multiengine pilot is challenging, given that most of us will never have to shut down an engine and there are many areas to train.

Regular multiengine training sessions with an instructor, time spent with the manual, in the simulator, and watching safety videos online will quickly refresh those skills you learned during an uneventful long weekend of twin engine training and flying around a multiengine airplane on one engine.

Why Ongoing Twin Engine Training Matters

The reality of multiengine flying is that while the training course itself may be relatively short, the responsibility it carries lasts for an entire flying career. Twin engine training is not just about earning the rating; it is about continuously practicing and reinforcing the skills that allow a pilot to remain proficient and safe. Unlike routine single-engine flying, where loss of power often leads to a glide and forced landing, a multiengine aircraft presents far more complex decision-making in the event of failure.

One of the most overlooked aspects of twin engine training is scenario-based practice. Many pilots learn the “identify, verify, feather” drill in the classroom or simulator but rarely revisit it once they have passed their checkride. The result is that the first real-world emergency may also be the first time they have had to apply the procedure under true pressure. To prevent this, recurrent training that simulates realistic failures under varying conditions—night flights, high density altitude, or during heavy crosswinds—must be part of every pilot’s annual schedule.

Another essential component is a clear understanding of aircraft performance charts. Twin engine training should emphasize that losing one engine rarely equates to “half the performance.” In fact, most light twins lose as much as 80 percent of their climb capability, which is why knowing Vyse (best single-engine rate of climb speed) and Vmc (minimum controllable airspeed) is non-negotiable. Pilots who fail to respect these speeds are often those who appear in accident reports.

Finally, there is the mental side of training. Confidence and calm decision-making under stress are just as critical as stick-and-rudder skills. The best twin engine training programs combine technical instruction with simulated emergencies that test judgment, crew resource management, and risk assessment.

For example, you can review our detailed article on engine failure after takeoff in light twin aircraft to better understand real-world scenarios and pilot responses.

By committing to continuous multiengine training, reviewing accident case studies, and practicing emergency drills regularly, pilots not only keep themselves safe but also uphold the reputation of professional airmanship. In the end, two engines are only safer than one when the pilot is prepared to handle the moment when one of them fails.