As restrictions begins to ease and air travel resumes, the cancellation of flights, grounding of fleets and unprecedented job cuts will have knock-on operational impacts for the wider aviation sector. Bhanu Choudhrie suggests changes to the way pilots are trained to ensure there is not a pilot shortage in the mid- to long-term.
This guest commentary is offered by Christian Popp, Chief Customer Officer of MINT Software Systems. Christian looks at how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed our personal and professional relationship with technology.
A commentary byNaveed Kapadiaon the economic hardships triggered by the pandemic and the need for a consistent, coordinated approach by governments and other stakeholders.
There have been wide reports of mass airline redundancies in recent weeks as the entire aviation industry goes through a severely turbulent time. These difficult times are the lag indicators of wider challenges upstream.
Airlines in Europe were beginning to show some signs of recovery, however fragile, when the virus numbers started to rise again. The steady traffic increase clearly stopped since 7 August and traffic is at ‐51.5% (7‐day rolling average) compared to 2019.
Editor’s Note:CAT magazine presents Guest Commentary on important issues facing the community. The opinions expressed are the author’s own.
This commentary is offered by Naveed Kapadia, whose career expertise includes research and development of flight crew training to enhance safety for a major European airline group, business development for Airways Aviation, and easyJet Flight Officer. He earned a master’s degree in air transport management from City University of London and an MSc bursary winner from Royal Academy of Engineering. He is also an ambulance crew volunteer during the current UK health crisis.
He poses the challenge: do we need a global refresh on how we train crews for decision-making?
We are used to scrutinising accidents and serious incidents, but we almost never investigate with the same tenacity and vigor when things go right. Why do we deprive ourselves of equally important learning opportunities when the flight crew makes the right call? We need to encourage stakeholders to proactively look at what went well and celebrate success with similar importance. Enhancing insights and experience is key to minimise errors.
The flight training community is divided on how to best deliver Upset Prevention and Recovery Training. Rob Mark's article from 2019 talks with experts about the rationale behind their respective extended envelope training approaches.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created many questions about aviation training: How do furloughed pilots maintain recency? How do flight schools continue their training when pilots are isolating at home? How will training organizations handle a surge of necessary type conversions if airlines overhaul their fleets in favor of more fuel-efficient aircraft?
The COVID-19-triggered deficit in training capacity is temporary. Growth, and the pilot shortage will eventually return. Now is the time to develop the Flight Academy of the Future, suggests Captain John Bent, FRAeS.