Page 35 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCOTBER 2017 Online Magazine

FEATURE PILOT TRAINING

years, in part simply because of a looming
pilot shortage and also because of increased
pay at the regional airlines.
The story in North America, the United
States particularly, is different. Retirements
at US airlines will start to rise precipitously
starting in 2021 as the current group of pilots
turns 65, the mandated age of retirement.
A report by Cowen & Company states that
more than 42 per cent of active US airline
pilots at the biggest carriers will retire over
the next 10 years, which is about 22,000. This
acute shortage is already creating problems.
Efforts are being taken by the airline
industry to overcome this growing shortage.
While developing training programs and
strategies to attract and retain the right crew
is the prime focus of the industry globally,
flight academies. Aircraft manufacturing in 2019. Over 25 carriers, mostly based in there are several other factors that may give
giants Airbus and Boeing are also setting up Asia Pacific, have signed up with the Airbus airline advantage a competitive advantage.
their training centers to meet the training Asia training center for their flight training Conducting regular pay reviews is
demands. Seeing strong demand for the needs. These include Philippines Airlines, considered the most obvious method of
737 Max in the Asia Pacific region, Boeing PAL Express and Cebu Pacific. attracting and retaining pilots. However,
has commissioned its first 737 Max 8 full added financial perks such as free meals,
flight simulator at the Boeing Training Innovation is the Key accommodation and flights for family
& Professional Services in Singapore. Apart from flight simulator training, which is members act as a true differentiation from
Certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of also an example of an expedited pilot training, competitor airlines. Seeking to improve
Singapore and the European Aviation Safety there is a need for creating other innovative airline working conditions by having more
Agency, the new equipment joins two 737NG and proactive development pathways. The regular schedules, longer rest periods, and
machines, two 787-8 units and a 777-300 industry is also experiencing an increasing revisions in the number of hours required to
simulator already in service. The region will trend of faster promotions. Earlier the co- fly annually could also have positive effects.
see at least 15 operators of the 737 Max, pilots typically spent 8 to 10 years working With a growing concern over the huge
including launch customer Lionair Group, in the right seat before becoming captains. gap between the supply and demand of
Garuda Indonesia and Vietjet Air. However, today this learning curve exhibits pilots across the world, the airline industry
The company has also introduced its a very steep growth. The first officers are will need to explore a variety of creative
new interactive classrooms for the 737 Max getting opportunities to upgrade themselves approaches to attract and retain pilots. One
to Singapore. The Singapore campus plans much earlier. However, this fast-paced important approach is to put in place a more
to organize a series of visits for five to six career growth calls for a very robust training flexible and tailored solutions for rewards
airlines from the region that are either 737 pathway. A data-driven training is the next and benefits.
Max clients or potential clients. Plans call breakthrough. Advanced data collection and
for Shanghai to become the second Boeing analysis techniques allows the instructor
training campus in Asia to operate the 737 to address competency gaps. This system
Max simulator and the new training model. makes the training sessions more effective
The company has also revealed that it by providing an objective evaluation of pilot opposite pAge: Demand
plans to install a 787-9 simulator in time for skills and elevating the standard by which outstrips supply and in the Asia-
operation by November this year. they are trained. Pacific region. Airlines, aircraft
Meanwhile the Asia training center OEMs and companies that provide
of Airbus, a joint venture with Singapore Other Factors at Play pilot training are all struggling to
meet the requirements for more
Airlines offers pilot type-rating and recurrent Another aspect that the airline industry has and more pilots
training courses for all in-production Airbus started to tap into is the unrepresented
jetliner variants. It will have the capacity to labour pool of female pilots, who represent top: An estimated 22,000 active
offer courses for more than 10,000 trainees less than 5 per cent of airline pilots. There is U.S. airline pilots will retire in the
next 10 years, as they attain the
annually, becoming Airbus’ largest flight a general sense of optimism that the ranks of retirement age of 65 mandated in
crew training facility when fully operational female airline pilots will grow in the coming the USA
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