Page 22 - AAA NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 Online Magazine

FEATURE PILOT TRAINING

Airbus’ Drappier says, “if everybody “consistently deliver trainee quality,” says
agrees that maintaining [basic flying] ian Calvert, CTC Aviation Training (new
skills is essential, the question is: how Zealand) Ceo. Glenn Frederick, executive
to make sure that all pilots master these Vp of Commercial Training and services
skills to begin with, and secondly how to at training specialist CAe, agrees. “As an
keep them current. hand flying on the line industry, we must aggressively recruit
is not the [only] answer. specific training and screen young people with not only
is necessary, and use of the appropriate the physical capabilities and aptitude
level of automation at all times.” to fly an aircraft but also the attitude
This underlines the issue of supply to become a professional pilot who is
and demand, versus quality. it seems consistently focused on efficiency and
there are two schools of thought on this safety,” he asserts.
subject. some airlines are considering so it seems highly likely that the
setting up their own ab-initio training aviation community will continue to
schools since they are very concerned outsource its training. Airlines work
that the training industry will not be able under increasingly small margins, and
to supply enough pilots appropriately they must do everything they can to keep
qualified and experienced to be able to costs down. outsourcing of training is
satisfy their ongoing needs. one opportunity to keep pilots flying the
Many others, such as Jetstar Asia, line rather than sitting in the company’s
are turning to specialist operators and training centre being a drain on resources
Some of CAE’s training facilities are training schools to provide this delicate rather than a profit generator.
equipped with the full-flight simulators balancing act. The airline has sought
needed to train pilots for the Boeing the assistance of new Zealand trainers New departures
787, an aircraft that many airlines have
already placed orders for CTC. The company will offer ab-initio which is all very well in an ideal, “wanna-
training for the airline’s new A320s, be-flyer” world. but what about training
scheduled to arrive over the next year for the next generation of pilots who are
or so. “we are working to recruit the simply looking for a good job that pays
best talents to join us,” says Jetstar well and fits into today’s lifestyle? not
Asia Ceo Chong phit lian. one that makes them feel like lindbergh
As larger organisations such as or biggles. Today’s trainee pilots have a
Jetstar join the outsourced training very different set of requirements, and
movement, with pilots from Australia, will need teaching in very different ways
new Zealand and Vietnam all passing to the old “left-hand seat” system. bob
through CTC’s classrooms, this confirms bellitto, boeing Flight services Global
the capability of firms like CTC to sales Director (himself an ex-military

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