Meet the Speakers

Jose Alfonso is a retired 30-year veteran of the Boston Police Department in the United States and is the owner and founder of Empower Communications Group. Mr. Alfonso is a highly respected retired law enforcement officer holding state and nationally recognized certifications as a police trainer with a dedication to excellence that is acknowledged by his peers in law enforcement. Mr. Alfonso completed his career as a Boston Police Officer assigned to the Boston Police Academy from August 10th, 2004, to June 4th,2021. While assigned as an academy trainer, he participated in several committees for the Municipal Police Training Committee in Massachusetts researching and developing training curriculums for both recruit and veteran officer in-service training. As a law enforcement trainer, he holds several instructor certifications in disciplines such as:

• Defensive tactics / Use of force
• Applied patrol response and tactics.
• Patrol response to active shooter events
• S.P.E.A.R (Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response).
• De-escalation strategies
• Edge weapon awareness and defense instructor
• 35 years’ experience in different disciplines of martial arts

In early 2021, as a response to the increased number of unruly passenger incidents that were occurring in the airline industry, “Communication Strategies for Airline Professionals” was created by Jose Alfonso and Darryl Owens. Mr. Owens is also a highly respected retired law enforcement officer and law enforcement trainer holding state and nationally recognized certifications. The course was taught to all Spirit Airline Flight Attendants during S3 training from September 2021 through June 2022 and is part of all initial flight attendant training for Spirit Airlines.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

Reality Based Training – The Evolution of Cabin Crew Training

To prepare our cabin crew for the challenges that they are facing we need to make sure that our training reflects real life challenges. Let me give you an example. In the last two years we have asked cabin crew trainers regarding how flight attendants are trained when using restraints (Flex cuffs, etc.) the response is pretty much the same across the board. The training is done in a static (Vanilla) environment. As trainers who have been developing and conducting reality-based training for 20 years we can say without a doubt that the only thing that is accomplished in the training of restraints in a static environment is training scars. Simply put, we need to duplicate both the physical and physiological environment that is experienced in a real-world situation when we are trying to restrain someone. In this workshop we will identify and discuss:

1. What is reality-based training?
2. The use of stress inoculation in training
3. How stress inoculation benefits cabin crew training.
4. Building blocks for a successful reality-based training program.
5. Creating a safe training environment.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 5

LOUDER – De-escalation Workshop

At this year’s European Airline Training Symposium, we will be introducing the LOUDER principle. The LOUDER principle is part of our de-escalation strategies course “Communication Strategies for Airline Professionals” that we created in 2021 as a direct response to a study by the Federal Aviation Administration on unruly passengers. The objective of the course is to empower airline professionals with real skills and awareness to manage difficult situations while remaining safe and facilitating the de-escalation of guests/passenger’s behaviors when in crisis. Our workshop will revolve around our acronym called LOUDER (Listen to what the passenger is saying, Observe body language, Understand the message, De-escalate the emotion, Empathize with the passenger, Respond professionally). This will be an interactive workshop that will include audience participation.

Captain Adrian Amaladoss is the Divisional Vice President (Flight Operations Training and Standards), Singapore Airlines (SIA). In this role, he has oversight of the Airline’s pilot training. He is also rated on the Airbus A350 as an instructor.

Captain Amaladoss joined SIA as a cadet in 1994 and undertook flying training at the Singapore Flying College (SFC). He has been rated on the Learjet LJ31, Airbus A310, Airbus A330, Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 777.

Since 2009, Captain Amaladoss has served management roles in flight safety, aircraft fleet, and training management, and has been involved in a number of projects and intiatives both at an organisational and industry level.

He was General Manager, Singapore Flying College, from 2017 to 2020, and was involved in the development of its ab-initio and Multi Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) programmes.

Captain Amaladoss graduated with a Master of Engineering from the University of Oxford in 1993.

Pilot Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

The Use of Eye Tracking Technologies and Data in Support of CBTA

Miguel is a Cabin Crew Member working for TAP Air Portugal since 1992. In 2007 became a Senior Cabin Crew and nowadays is a Cabin Supervisor. In 2011 joined the Cabin Crew Training team as an instructor and was appointed Cabin Crew Training Manager in 2017. He’s qualified as instructor and examiner for Safety and Emegency Procedures, Security and Dangerous Goods. He’s also qualified as a Crew Resource Management Trainer and instructor for Inflight Service/Commercial matters.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

The TAP Experience in Implementing CBTA

Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) for Cabin Crew has emerged as one of the most demanding undertakings in Cabin Crew training. Beyond being a mere ‘new way’ of training, CBTA signifies and leads to a shift in mindset for both trainees and trainers, with particular emphasis on the latter.

TAP’s journey in implementing CBTA started two years ago, preparing and training all the instruction team in this mindset change, transitioning from traditional instruction to facilitation and ultimately adopting the ‘competency framework’ philosophy, expecting to be implemented in 2024.

Marcin Berezowski joined Ryanair DAC in 2004 as a junior cabin crew. As he enjoyed the practical nature of crew training, he progressed through the ranks of safety instructors onto the current role of Chief Instructor Safety Security. Leads a team of over 150 instructors and manages all technical aspects of safety and security training from junior cabin crew to senior instructors.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

Enhancing Training Effectiveness: Exploring the Impact of e-Learning, Kinaesthetic Approach and Virtual Classrooms for Cabin Crew Success

Training new Cabin Crew and Cabin Crew instructors during a rapid, post Covid 19 recovery period presents a challenge for all airlines, including those belonging to Ryanair Group. This presentation shares insights from training over 3000 new cabin crew and 50 instructors in 2022-3, focusing on three key themes:
1. e Learning and Competency Assessment:
e-Learning in training programs must be accompanied by robust competency checks. This presentation highlights the need for actionable assessments to evaluate competency effectively following the completion of e Learning modules.

2. Kinaesthetic Elements in e-Learning:
Kinaesthetic elements enhance e-Learning. We introduced such an element now in the new Senior Crew Member Training. The incorporation of written exercises accompanying e-Learning allows for better knowledge retention and increases training efficacy. Our experiences in maximising engagement and knowledge retention will be discussed.

3. Virtual Classroom for Instructor Assessment:
Virtual Classrooms are valuable tools for assessing new instructors’ delivery skills, particularly in high stakes evaluations. We will showcase the positive impact of Virtual Classroom checks on presentation skills and pass rates. The utilisation of this technology ensures consistent and effective content delivery.

This presentation aims to inspire aviation training professionals by highlighting innovative approaches for training large numbers of Cabin Crew and Cabin Crew instructors. By leveraging e-Learning, incorporating kinaesthetic elements and utilising Virtual Classrooms, training outcomes can be optimised competence can be fostered, and overall effectiveness can be improved.

Jean-Michel has over 30 years experience in aviation, in various executive positions whilst flying as a commercial airline pilot and acting as Flight Training Instructor/Examiner.

In 2019, he founded AMFTA as part of his vision to improve flight safety via the creation of a harmonised flight training level worldwide.

Previously, Jean-Michel was global Head of Flight Training & VP Training and Flight Ops for major jet and turboprop airline manufacturers and has held executive positions including CEO & Member of Executive Board for different companies.

Throughout his career, Jean-Michel has flown for many different airlines and still flies on a regular basis. His wide airline experience also extends to the start-up and rrestructuring of several airlines.

Jean-Michel trained at the Ecole d’Air France and began his career working for a major airline, before joining the French Aviation Authorities to manage ab intio & advanced training.

He is current on the A320/A330/A350 & A380 and is still acting as Instructor and Examiner on both Airbus aircraft and light aircraft.

Pilot Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 2

AMFTA – Report on Progress

The Aircraft Manufacturer Flight Training Association (AMFTA) presented their goals and mission one year ago during the EATS symposium in 2022. Today, AMFTA is reporting on the progress, one year on, including the working groups and topics launched.

AMFTA will also present their perspective on CBTA/EBT and the practical guidance they are working towards publishing.

Cedric Buch serves as a CBTA (Competency-Based Training and Assessment) expert within the Brussels Airlines cabin crew training department, actively engaging in multiple projects related to competency-based training and assessment for cabin crew members. His career spans 16 years as an active cabin crew member, operating on various aircraft, from short-haul to long-haul missions. Currently, he continues to serve as a purser and instructor for Brussels Airlines’ A32F operations.

With an academic background, Cedric initially assumed the role of a CRM (Crew Resource Management) instructor, subsequently expanding his expertise to include inflight instruction and safety instruction. Since 2020, he has been actively involved in numerous projects within the Brussels Airlines training department.

Cedric has assisted the Nominated Person Crew Training and the Head of Cabin and Joint Training with implementing a cabin crew competency framework at Brussels Airlines. This framework is currently in use for training and assessing cabin crew members during their operational duties.

Presently, Cedric is actively participating in the implementation of competency-based training and assessment for both the Lufthansa Group Initial training program and the recurrent training program at Brussels Airlines.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 4

Overcoming the Challenges in Embracing Digital Technologies

Even though technological breakthrough displays a range of digital tools to ease learning, reluctance to apply them in cabin crew training still persists. Worldwide studies demonstrate the benefits of digital solutions such as VR, AR and others in improving training effectiveness while simultaneously increasing ROI. Hence, what are the barriers causing such resistance to change? Is it the regulation that is not changing fast enough? Nethertheless, does the regulation forbid the use of such effective means at all? On the other hand, could it be our belief that traditional training methods are more effective? Are we unsure about how to initiate such a project?

To overcome such challenges, it is important to adopt a holistic view to the entire training system by firstly reflecting on the purpose of training as well as our associated responsibilities. Secondly, we need to appreciate the importance of a human-centric training approach and co-relate it to the concept of CBTA while identifying the gaps in traditional training versus the promising opportunities in digital technologies.

Let us jointly discuss and share our expertise on the desired targeted outcomes of cabin crew training, questin current training approaches and identify areas where a digital interactive environment would make a difference.

This workshop will consist of scenario-based analysis and facilitated discussions to encourage participants to apply critical thinking and creativity to explore the opportunities of digital solutions in enhancing training and crew performance.

Aims & objectives:

• Practice applying a holistic approach with multiple angle perception includig human-centric view, CBTA, compliance, training effectiveness & efficiency, to identify promising digital training methods.
• Identify and discuss training elements which would be best delivered via digital tools and realistic simulations.
• Justify the reasoning behind course of action and the benefits of digital training solutions.
• Practice specifying digital course contents which support CBTA principle.

Carlos Carreiras has been Mayor of Municipality of Cascais since 2011, winning three elections with an absolute majority and some of the most expressive votes ever in the municipality.

During his terms in office, Carlos Carreiras was Vice President of the Social Democratic Party (2014/2016), President of the social democratic think-tank Instituto Francisco Sá Carneiro (2010/2013) and founder of the Social Democratic Youth.

He is a training manager and, before executive politics, he was a company administrator in the field of FMCG and tourism.

A columnist for the “i” newspaper and author of the book “Com vista para o Atlântico”, Carlos Carreiras was born in 1961 and is the father of five daughters.

Shane is an Airbus A320 Captain with over 10,000 hours experience flying in Europe and Asia. He is also an experienced Type Rating Instructor and Synthetic Flight Instructor.

He began his flying career in 1999, aged 19, as an Aer Lingus cadet pilot. He was upgraded to Captain within Aer Lingus in 2009.

From 2011 he had been based in Asia; working from Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Ho Chi Minh City.

In late 2016 Shane began work in earnest on the VR Trainer through his startup; winning a place on Airbus BizLab (Toulouse) hybrid accelerator from October 2017. Since Airbus acquired his startup in August 2019 he has been leading a pioneering team creating the next generation of training software between both Dublin and Toulouse.

Pilot Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 7

XR Training in 2023: Use Cases, Challenges and Successes

Lufthansa Aviation Training and Airbus have been pioneers in the development and deployment of XR solutions in industry today. Using immersive technologies, Lufthansa have trained 80,000+ cabin crew since 2018, operated a Brunner DA42 FSTD demonstrator, and have closely collaborated with Airbus on their Virtual Procedure Trainer (VPT).

Together they share their motivations, challenges, and successes based on genuine research and data. Considering regulatory requirements as well as trainee feedback, the state of XR training in 2023 will be discussed.

Mário Chaves é o Chief Operating Officer da TAP Air Portugal. Começou a sua carreira como Piloto em 1998, acumulando com a profissão de Business Consultant. Foi comandante e instrutor da TAP até 2013, acumulando como Program Manager da Companhia,  budget controller na área de Operações e posteriormente Head of Performance Management. Trabalhou como Assistant Director Flight Operations na IATA, foi Vice-President Operations Efficiency na Icelandair e posteriormente CEO da TACV (Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde). Em 2020 entra na SATA como Chief Operations & Commercial Officer, para voltar ao Grupo TAP em 2023, primeiro como Diretor-Geral da Portugália e mais tarde como COO da Companhia.

Mário Chaves is the Chief Operating Officer at TAP Air Portugal. He began his career as a pilot in 1998, working as a business consultant. He was commander and instructor until 2013, accumulating as Program Manager, budget controller in the Operations area and subsequently Head of Performance Management. He worked as Assistant Director Flight Operations at IATA, Vice-President Operations Efficiency at Icelandair and afterwards as CEO of TACV (Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde). In 2020 he joined SATA as Chief Operations & Commercial Officer, and returned to TAP Group in 2023, first as General Manager of Portugália and later as COO of the Company.

Combined Session (Pilot/ATO/Cabin Crew)
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 1

Evey Cormican, the driving force behind @vtrvr.com, serves as the Founder/CEO of Visionary Training Resources. At VTR, our steadfast mission is to enhance pilot development by seamlessly integrating Virtual Reality techniques into airline pilot training.

Ms. Cormican’s aviation career, which began in 1994, has taken her from being an airline pilot to the position of Captain with United Airlines. Throughout her journey, she has garnered recognition for her impactful roles, including her significant contributions to the integration of Continental Airlines and United Airlines. She has also held the role of Vice Chairman of Training for the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) and served as a flight simulator instructor for Continental Airlines in Houston. Furthermore, Ms. Cormican has lent her expertise to Hughes Aerospace Corporation, where she provided guidance on RNAV procedure design and GPS GPAS implementation at Newark and Zurich International Airports. In the aviation field, she is respected for her skill in shaping airline safety programs and improving operational procedures.

Ms. Cormican’s influence extends beyond aviation. She is known for her inspiring TEDx talk, “Come Fly With Me,” available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am1B4akG_So. In this talk, she shares her remarkable journey as the daughter of Greek immigrants who cultivated her passion for aviation, ultimately leading her to become a pilot with unwavering family support. Additionally, Ms. Cormican contributes to the world of children’s literature through her involvement in the book “Pourquoi Princess”, which fosters a love for aviation among young girls. Her dedication lies in encouraging children to embrace the limitless possibilities of the skies.

One of Ms. Cormican’s noteworthy achievements is her pivotal role in the merger of Continental Airlines and United Airlines. Handpicked by United’s senior leadership, she meticulously identified industry-leading safety practices and flight procedures, leveraging her extensive pilot network to advocate for their adoption. Her commitment and expertise ensured the smooth implementation of thirteen phases of FAA-mandated changes over three years.

In 2012, Ms. Cormican assumed the position of Assistant Chief Pilot, overseeing 2,000 pilots for both domestic and international routes from Houston to destinations worldwide. Her meticulous oversight prioritized aircraft maintenance and aviation safety. She was entrusted with a critical high-profile project as the Maintenance Liaison for the 767 aircraft, aiming to enhance dispatch reliability and reduce flight cancellations. Serving as a liaison between pilots and Houston’s Technical Operations department during a period without a mechanics’ union contract, she used her adept relationship-building skills to create mutually beneficial solutions and improve aircraft maintenance turnaround times.

With an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a B.S. in Airway Science and Airway Systems Management from the University of North Dakota Center for Aerospace Studies, Ms. Cormican’s academic achievements complement her impressive aviation credentials. She holds certifications as a Certified Flight Instructor, an Airline Transport Pilot, an Instrument Instructor, and a Multi-Engine Instrument Instructor. Additionally, she is licensed to pilot Boeing 767, 757, and 737 aircraft. Ms. Cormican embodies an unwavering dedication to aviation and a resolute spirit that continually propels her to new heights in the industry.

Combined Session (Pilot/ATO/Cabin Crew)
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 8

Fly Like a Girl: Navigating the Complex Landscape of Obstacles Faced by Female Pilots

Barriers facing women in the field of aviation result from a multifaceted blend of societal, institutional, and personal factors. Gender stereotypes and ingrained biases frequently discourage women from pursuing careers in aviation.

Industry recruitment and retention practices may inadvertently contribute to this gender disparity by offering fewer opportunities and support systems for female pilots.

The demanding and often unpredictable nature of pilot schedules can create conflicts with family obligations, presenting a unique challenge for women in the profession. Moreover, the absence of female role models and mentors in the industry can impede the advancement of aspiring women in aviation.

Salvador Costa Pereira is an accomplished aviator who began his journey in aviation in 1998. At the young age of 22, he became a Flight Instructor. He then went on to fly Turboprop on the B1900D before joining TAP Portgual, where he served as a First Officer for six years, flying various aircraft including the A319, A320, A321, and A340. Salvador then embarked on a new adventure in 2013, joining Emirates and serving as a pilot on the A380 for three and a half years. He returned to Europe as a Captain on the A320 business jet before joining easyJet Lisbon in 2017, where he continues to serve as a Captain on the A320 family. Salvador also holds a Masters in Air Transport Management from ISEC Lisbon. With his wealth of experience and expertise, he was invited to join an ambition project at Sevenair Academy, where he is now the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Training.

ATO Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 4

Bridging the Gap Between Airline Training and Ab Initio Training

The aviation industry is grappling with a pressing issue: the shortage of qualified pilots. Bridging the gap between airline training, which assumes a certain level of aviation experience, and ab initio training, which starts with individuals having little or no flight background, has become imperative.

One of the central elements in addressing this gap is the development of adaptable training programs. Standardized curricula must be reimagined to accommodate candidates with a wide range of prior experience. Implementing modular training structures and a competency-based learning approach can help individuals progress at their own pace, tailoring their training to their unique needs. Incorporating technology, such as flight simulators and virtual reality, can offer a secure environment for trainees to hone essential skills.

Collaboration within the aviation industry is another key aspect. Airlines, flight schools, and regulatory bodies should work together to establish common standards and curricula. This ensures that ab initio-trained pilots acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes required for a seamless transition into airline-specific training programs.

Mentorship and apprenticeship programs can play a pivotal role in transferring knowledge and expertise from seasoned airline pilots to novices. This practical exposure is invaluable in preparing pilots for real-world challenges.

In summary, bridging the gap between airline training and ab initio training is a complex challenge that demands innovative, collaborative, and adaptable solutions. By applying these strategies, the aviation industry can guarantee a sustainable supply of skilled pilots to meet the growing demand, securing the future of air travel.

João is a Cabin Crew Member since 2000 and Senior Cabin Crew since 2017. He joined Cabin Crew Training team in 2018 acting as an instructor and examiner. Since 2019 acts as the Deputy of the Cabin Crew Training Manager and Coordinator for Cabin Crew Training in Safety and Emergency procedures, Security, Standard Operating Procedures and Crew Resource Management modules.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

The TAP Experience in Implementing CBTA

Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) for Cabin Crew has emerged as one of the most demanding undertakings in Cabin Crew training. Beyond being a mere ‘new way’ of training, CBTA signifies and leads to a shift in mindset for both trainees and trainers, with particular emphasis on the latter.

TAP’s journey in implementing CBTA started two years ago, preparing and training all the instruction team in this mindset change, transitioning from traditional instruction to facilitation and ultimately adopting the ‘competency framework’ philosophy, expecting to be implemented in 2024.

As one of the founding members of the British Airways pilot Crew Resource Management trainer team, Trevor has been developing training courses and delivering practical human factors awareness and more advanced courses since 1991.

Trevor began introducing human factors concepts to healthcare professionals in 2002 with paediatric cardiac surgery and now continues to do so across the entire spectrum including maternity, surgery, ICU, mental health and other healthcare teams.

Trevor has been active in development of research and training intiatives in healthcare, aviation, and other safety-related industries including nuclear power generation.

He has collaborated on several research projects in healthcare, including at Great Ormond Street and Oxford University Hospitals, focussing on learning from error and success.

His passion is to help professionals develop and maintain their full range of skills, both technical and non-technical. He is helping others to introduce human factors integration into child protection social work.

In 2022 he developed implementation of a neuro-science-based digital learning methodology for HF and Quality Improvement Science blended for several healthcare providers, both public sector and private.

He continues to fly for fun and is a committed voluntary worker within his local community.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 7

How Do You Move from Assessment of an Hours-Based Training Course to a CBT Framework?

Regulating and assessing competence when utilising advanced training methodologies presents a problem for traditional assessment.

Methodologies such as VR and neuroscience-based techniques can take time to stabilise in the long-term memory and hence immediate testing is likely to be irrelevant.

Time-sequencing can condense training offering significant time and hence cost saving but takes time to form long term memory synaptic connections. Those long-term memories can improve confidence and hence reduce stress. This in turn is an aid to assessing competence because people frequently do not perform at their best under test conditions, rather than in the real world.

Time-sequenced training can offer enhanced sustained knowledge retention, coupled with VR to bring the skills into play. The time and efficiency savings could be a game-changer for the profession.

Pieterjan De Jaeger has over two decades of experience, he embarked on his aviation journey as an ATPL graduate from the Sabena Flight Academy. His career at Brussels Airlines began as a First Officer, steadily progressing to become an instructor and examiner on the Airbus A320.

Pieterjan’s dedication to advancing aviation safety and training led him to various roles, including EBT Project Lead and Fleet Training Manager for Airbus A320. He collaborates closely with EASA SPT.012, contributing to the promotion and development of European provisions on pilot training.

As a passionate advocate for competency based training, Pieterjan De Jaeger brings his knowledge and experience to EATS.

Pilot Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 5

Observable Behaviour Training: The Instructor as Role Model

The implementation of Evidence-Based Training (EBT) and Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) as safety initiatives marks a significant milestone in the aviation industry. This holistic approach, which emphasizes competencies rather than traditional task-oriented training, has led to a transformative shift in the training of modern airline pilots.

Industry documentation, including ICAO DOC 9995, IATA EBT implementation guide, EASA EBT Manual, and other relevant resources, provide comprehensive guidelines for competency assessments. Established principles such as ORCA, the facilitated debriefing, and other techniques have gained widespread recognition and positive feedback from both pilots and instructors worldwide.

At Brussels Airlines, we are now progressing to the next stage. While competency assessments with root cause analysis have been effectively conducted, the integration of technical and non-technical behaviours in the competency model has revealed an increasing number of root causes associated with non-technical behaviours. As members of the EBT/CBTA project team, we have been tasked with developing tailored training scenarios specifically focused on enhancing pilot non-technical behaviour. Therefore, our objective is to include training for pilots in non-technical observable behaviours, a challenge that the traditional Instructional System Design (ISD) model, e.g. with ADDIE, does not fully address.

Certain behaviour training align seamlessly with existing workflows, particularly those related to motor skills (FPM) and specific professional behaviours (KNO, PRO). However, training non-technical behaviours requires a novel approach, one that is evidence-based. Internally, at Brussels Airlines, we are currently developing this type of training in cooperation with psychologists and experts in the field. This endeavor will shed new light on the role of instructors as role models.

Carey began his aviation career with the Royal Air Force flying helicopters and has held an ATPL. Carey specialises in instructor training as well as developing CRM and human factors programmes. He was Chairman of the RAeS Human Factors Group and Chairman of the Ops & Licensing Focus Group for the EASA Human Factors Advisory Group. He is a member of the Flight Crew Human Factors Advisory Panel to the CAA, a CRM Trainer Examiner, and is author of the book ‘Airmanship’.

Pilot Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

A Deeper Insight into Flight Crew Competencies

LMQ were the original authors of the non-technical ICAO competencies and related OB’s, which are fundamental to any CBTA or EBT program. Our conference session will explain the history behind the competencies including how they were developed and validated. We will also challenge some of the changes that have been made by ICAO and explain why they might be inappropriate.

The session will start with a brief exercise involve the delegates, to demonstrate that our competencies are based on the experience but more importantly the language of real pilots flying real aircraft particularly in challenging situations. We will explain that this exercise was originally created to change the existing negative attitudes and lack of understanding of CRM.

We will then match what the delegates have created to the original outputs from hundreds of pilots and share our experience in multi-cultural environments. We will describe how the competencies and OBs were validated and their operational use over the last 20 years with many operators including Airbus Training. We will explain how the Competencies were selected by the EBT working group and their final adoption by ICAO as the Pilot Core Competencies.

Then we will challenge the unvalidated changes that ICAO made to some of the original OBs. We will show that some of the key OBs have been removed or the language changed, and others have been added that are either unobservable, unclear or duplication of others. Furthermore, these additions have created too many OBs that undermine the validity and effectiveness of the VENN grading process in EBT programs.

Henry Emery has been a board member of the International Civil Aviation English Association for 15 years and was a member of the ICAEA Test Design Guidelines editorial committee. He is co-author of the British Council award-winning Aviation English (Macmillan, 2008) and Check Your Aviation English (Macmillan, 2010). Henry was the project manager of the English Test for Aviation, the first test in the world to be endorsed by ICAO, and was project manager of the ICAO Rated Speech Samples Training Aid. He is also Managing Director of Latitude Aviation English Services (www.latitude-aes.aero), a specialist provider of aviation language training and testing services.

ATO Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 5

New ICAO Guidelines on Aviation Language Test Design

ICAO introduced the Language Proficiency Requirements in 2003 to ensure safe and efficient radio communications. However, varied interpretations of the standard have resulted in significant differences in test design leading to uncertainty over what tests measure and what scores mean, as well as overall quality. To support with harmonisation, The International Civil Aviation English Association has produced a set of test design guidelines which have been incorporated into a handbook due to be published by ICAO this year. The guidelines address eight broad aspects of language test design from content and tasks, to assessment and test maintenance. This presentation introduces and explores the test design guidelines and explains how they can be used, and will be of value to ATOs that develop, administer and oversee aviation language testing.

I started in Aer Lingus as a cadet (fully sponsored) pilot in 1989 and have operated as a Captain for 23 years. My role as an instructor has included safety and security training for both pilots and cabin crew. More recently my role has developed into mainly a CRM facilitator, creator and assessor. Working with Paddy we have been tasked with developing CRM for recurrent training, instructor training/revalidation and now EBT/CBT. As a CRMA I also do assessments on flight crew CRM instructors as well as cabin crew instructors.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

Training the Next Generation – Our Route to EBT/CBT

Over the past 6 years our airline Aer lingus have embarked on a mission to implement an EBT methodology into our approach to training. Looking back to that time, we conducted our Recurrent Training in part in the classroom and in our mock-up. The experience of our crews was both practical and academic with an emphasis on the pass fail. Crews approached training in a state of apprehension and our instructors approached training as a hurdle for their trainees to get through. To give this some context our CRM modules where heavily reliant on power-point slides circa 190 at that time and now we have an average of 10 slides in our recurrent product with a reliance on facilitation and experiential learning. Times where changing, and we took the opportunity to move forward.

A unique tool we had to start with was our co-facilitated recurrent training day, that is one pilot instructor and one cabin crew instructor. In essence as CRM instructors we work side by side, One FC and One CC instructor conducting our recurrent CRM programme. This relationship allowed us an insight into the needs of all crew members and an appreciation of the different aspects of our roles. The closeness of the working relationship offered us a platform to share our resources. And now we are actively using some of the structures of the FC EBT model to help enhance and develop a comparable system for the cabin crew.

At EATS 2023 we would like to share our journey with you.

I am a developmental psychologist focusing on young adults, workplace wellbeing, and gender equality.

I completed my bachelor’s degree in psychology Cum Laude at the University of California, Irvine. Then, I received my master’s degree in Social Science, concentrating in developmental psychology, at the University of Chicago.

After graduation, I took some time back home in China, doing filed work and teaching. Currently, I am a PhD candidate at the University of Helsinki, Finland, receiving the Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowship, and my work focuses heavily on bringing gender equality to various workplaces.

Experience:

Author – The Misunderstood Rationality of Humans – 2017
In the book, discussed and drew connections between everyday life and psychology, analyzed a variety of everyday events with different psychological approaches; discussed cultural differences between China and America. The book was published in summer, 2017.

Research Collaborator – University of Chicago – 2021
Led the collaboration between University of Helsinki and Finnish Aviation Academy. Proposed and implemented the three-phase intervention on bringing more women in pilot occupation.

Doctoral Researcher – University of Helsinki – 2021 – ongoing
Receiving the EU horizon Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowship, work on improving workplace gender equality, focusing on young adult and career development.

Combined Session – Pilot/ATO/Cabin Crew
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 8

Boosting Gender Equality in Airline Training: A Two-Phase Intervention

In this collaborative project between University of Helsinki and Finnish Aviation Academy (FINAA), a two-phase intervention was carried out with the goal of understanding public impression of pilot occupation and boosting the number of female applicants for pilot training program in FINAA. This project is comprised of two interventions: (1) a survey intervention; (2) a social media intervention.

In the survey intervention, 962 Finnish high school students, 97 high school student advisors, and 192 FINAA employees were surveyed on their perception of pilots. Results showed that students’ impression of pilot was still highly masculine; “being a girl” was considered as a disadvantage if one wants to be become a pilot; “think pilot, think man” was still the reality; students and student advisors had similar understanding of the importance of different pilot-related traits, but there was a gap in understanding between them and actual FINAA employees, suggesting the need for raising public awareness and better education materials. Based on these findings, a five-episode video intervention was carried out, which aimed at breaking the masculine stereotypes of pilots. The five videos featured female trainees at FINAA and Finnair pilot, showing a full picture of being a woman in aviation. The interviews were carefully prompted to avoid window-dressing. With over 20,000 views, this series of video serves as materials for public education and female pilot role-model building.

The current two-phase intervention was able to boost the percentage of female applicants to 16%, which occur to be the highest in the past decade.

John’s love of aviation started at the age of 8 when his family got involved in hot air ballooning. He began his aviation career in the Royal Air Force, serving as an Engineering Officer on the Tornado aircraft and then within the Military Aviation Authority. He joined EASA in 2011 in the Safety Analysis Team and in 2018 became EASA’s Head of Safety Promotion where he leads their Together4Safety promotion initiative to help the European Aviation community by providing practical information and support on a range of safety issues and other topics.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 2

Cabin Crew Conference Keynote

Cabin Service Manager for Aer Lingus operating on all fleets but predominantly Airbus A330 on Transatlantic. Over 10 years in Cabin Crew training and actively involved with Collette in creating and implementing CRM for all Cabin Crew training and Annual Integrated Recurrent CRM. Also involved in instructor revalidation and new instructor training.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

Training the Next Generation – Our Route to EBT/CBT

Over the past 6 years our airline Aer Lingus has embarked on a mission to implement an EBT methodology into our approach to training. Looking back to that time, we conducted our Recurrent Training in part in the classroom and in our mock-up. The experience of our crews was both practical and academic with an emphasis on the pass fail. Crews approached training in a state of apprehension and our instructors approached training as a hurdle for their trainees to get through. To give this some context our CRM modules were heavily reliant on power-point slides circa 1990 at that time and now we have an average of 10 slies in our recurrent product with a reliance on facilitation and experiential learning. Times were changing, and we took the opportunity to move forward.

A unique tool we had to start with was our co-facilitated recurrent training day, that is one pilot instructor and one cabin crew instructor. In essence as CRM instructors we work side by side, one FC and one CC instructor conducting our recurrent CRM programme. This relationship allowed us an insight into the needs of all crew members and an appreciation of the different aspects of our roles. The closeness of the working relationship offered us a platform to share our resources. And now we are actively using some of the structures of the FC EBT model to help enhance and develop a comparable system for the cabin crew.

At EATS 2023 we would like to share our journey with you.

Head of Training at Quality Fly, holds a BSc and an MSc in Aeronautical Engineering from ETSIA-UPM, and an MEd in Secondary Education from the ICE-UPM. He started flying sailplanes in the UPM flying club, where he completed his final year project designing a two-seater training sailplane. As of 2023, he has 10 years of experience in various ATOs and 6 as an airline pilot flying the 737 and A320 family. At present, he operates the Airbus long-haul fleet for Iberia. His area of interest is ab initio pilot training, currently working on the introduction of flipped learning, student-controlled simulator training, and the design and development of green ATOs.

ATO Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 5

Sustainable Comptency-Based Training: Sailplanes and Seasonal Programs for Better and Greener Flight Training

Sailplanes can improve the quality of pilot training. This is well-known by the military. But they can also improve sustainability.

EASA allows modular pilots to credit 30 PIC hours in sailplanes (AMC1 to Appendix 3). The same AMC allows integrated students to credit 20 dual hours in helicopters or TMGs, but not sailplanes. We shared this with EASA and their response was very positive, encouraging us to present a rulemaking proposal given its instructional and environmental potential that goes beyond a simple credit. We also got positive feedback from IAAPS and RACE.

From a training perspective, most of the exercises included in the new Basic UPRT can be better demonstrated in sailplanes, given their higher maneuverability and wider flight envelope. XC flights too. An analysis of each of the nine pilot competencies shows that sailplanes develop all of them except FPA.

In terms of safety, and considering that gliders are typically operated in segregated airspace, reducing the number of school flights at congested airports will have a positive effect. Sailplanes are always equipped with anticollision systems which are still hardly found in training airplanes.

But the environmental point of view is the most interesting: once in free flight, sailplanes are ultimately solar aircraft. The energy coming from the sun is available in the form of uplifts: the more competent the crew, the more they can train and become even better. With the introduction of electric self-launchable sailplanes, the launch can be solar too. Adapting programs to the seasons will further maximize these positive effects. Reducing the amount of fuel consumption is paramount: it is not only carbon reduction as general aviation is the primary source of lead emissions.

These advantages will allow ATOs to further invest in greener technologies still in development, like electric airplanes, and eventually become “solar-training-ports”.

Stuart Gruber is the Sr. Airline Training Deployment Manager for Boeing Global Services. His international team is responsible for supporting customer airlines with their implementation of the Boeing CBTA program.

Stuart joined Boeing in 2022 with an extensive background of senior roles in airline training and flight operations management.

In addition, Stuart has aviation regulatory experience as a Flight Operations & Training Inspector and has been a member of a number of EASA rule making tasks including Chairman of the A318 OEB and EASA Lead Pilot for the B787 OEB.

Stuart is an experienced pilot, instructor and senior examiner on multiple aircraft types.

Pilot Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 5

Industry Progress for CBTA

Raghoonundun Gunputh (Nickname: Birdy) is the Senior Manager Safety Training at Lufthansa Aviation Training, where his main area of responsibility is to manage the development of training policies & standards for safety related training (Safety, CRM, Security, First Aid, DG etc.) for flight crew and cabin crew to ensure alignment with legal requirements as well as forthcoming changes in new technologies and methodologies in order to optimise training for the Lufthansa Group Airlines and external customers.

He holds a degree in Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Open University UK.

In his past 35 years’ experience within the airline industry, Birdy started his career as a cabin crew member on long & short haul and afterwards as a Safety, CRM and Security Trainer. He was appointed Manager Crew Safety Training at different airlines for 19 years before joining Lufthansa Aviation Training in 2017. Within this journey, he has been involved in various projects in enhancing the design and delivery of safety training in an ever-changing operational environment.

As a member if the ICAO Cabin Safety Group, Birdy extends his engagement in the field of safety and training within the airline industry.

His latest projects have been to introduce VR Technology at Lufthansa Aviation Training for cabin crew, integrate CBTA principles into training and explore means of implementing innovative training solutions through ongoing projects. At present he is also a subject matter expert of the ICAO Working Group on Cabin Crew Digital Learning.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 4

Overcoming the Challenges in Embracing Digital Technologies

Even though technological breakthrough displays a range of digital tools to ease learning, reluctance to apply them in cabin crew training still persists. Worldwide studies demonstrate the benefits of digital solutions such as VR, AR and others in improving training effectiveness while simultaneously increasing ROI. Hence, what are the barriers causing such resistance to change? Is it the regulation that is not changing fast enough? Nevertheless, does the regulation forbid the use of such effective means at all? On the other hand, could it be our belief that traditional training methods are more effective? Are we unsure about how to initiate such a project?

To overcome such challenges, it is important to adopt a holistic view to the entire training system by firstly reflecting on the purpose of training as well as our associated responsibilities. Secondly, we need to appreciate the importance of a human-centric training approach and co-relate it to the concept of CBTA while identifying the gaps in traditional training versus the promising opportunities in digital technologies.

Let us jointly discuss and share our expertise on the desired targeted outcomes of cabin crew training, question current training approaches and identify areas where a digital interactive environment would make a difference.

This workshop will consist of scenario-based analyses and facilitated discussions to encourage participants to apply critical thinking and creativity to explore the opportunities of digital solutions in enhancing training and crew performance.

Aims & objectives:

• Practice applying a holistic approach with multiple angle perception including human-centric view, CBTA, compliance, training effectiveness & efficiency, to identify promising digital training methods
• Identify and discuss training elements which would be best delivered via digital tools and realistic simulations
• Justify the reasoning behind course of action and the benefits of digital training solutions
• Practice specifying digital course contents which support CBTA principles

Markus has worked for the last 7 years in the world’s most advanced mixed and virtual reality hardware company, Varjo, where he’s been responsible for key partnerships in simulation and training segment.

Pilot Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 7

Optimising Flight Training by Using XR

In this presentation, we will go through how the US Air Force is saving $350M each year using mixed reality and how those learnings could be applied in civil aviation. We’ll take a look at the most recent developments in civil aviation using virtual reality and explain current challenges of using mixed reality technology in regulated environments. Finally, we will conclude with suggestions and a timeline on how to take advantage of VR/XR technologies.

Senior Research Analyst and Consultant at Human Capital Management and Performance since 2007. HCMP is a consulting firm focused on improving workforce management through customized analytics, reporting systems, and IO psychology techniques. Many of our services have been provided to clients in the aviation industry. I have a specialization in the role of Human Factors in aviation, with particular focus outcomes on the role of cognitive function in multi-tasking, executive function, attention and situational awareness in job performance. I hold a BS in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and prior to joining the aviation industry, I worked in research labs and then a neurology clinic, developing cognitive testing protocols.

In my current role, my primary duties include working with clients to understand pain points and areas of growth and improvement to address these with policies and practices geared towards improved outcomes. This includes extensive research and translation of those findings into human capital programs and the technology that supports them.

Pilot Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 4

Cognitive Function and the Connection to Training Performance

Cognitive function and the capacity for cognition—also known as cognitive reserve—are critical to the role of a pilot. Cognition encompasses a variety of abilities, including multi-tasking, allocation of attentional resources, response to stimuli, and executive function. These abilities aggregate under the heading of situational awareness and have far-reaching implications for major industry areas of concern such as upset recognition and recovery. Before they escalate to safety concerns on the line, cognitive function parameters can be seen to have a correlation with performance in training. From a construct validity perspective, this intuitively makes sense. Traits such as learning and memory, perceptual motor function, cognitive flexibility and complex attention are undeniably features attributed to capable pilots. To some degree, experience, familiarity, and muscle memory can compensate for these basic cognitive abilities. However, upon the introduction of novel stimuli, cognitive function is needed to recruit and realign learned and habituated skills. Cognitive function and reserve can be assessed at a very basic level and tests to assess it do not need to be oriented towards aviation specifically. Cognitive testing is possible on basic computer equipment and a comprehensive battery of normal cognitive function can be performed in roughly an hour. Cognitive function is well-preserved throughout adulthood in the absence of injury or disease process which may degrade it. Pass/fail parameters on cognitive testing can be set based on general business goals of saving money in training due to additional or extended simulator sessions or more global goals of safety enhancement and risk mitigation in the cockpit. Furthermore, they can be combined with indicators of experience and acquired knowledge as well as personality type in order to maximize the intended outcome for the airline.

I started off my career in aviation in 2006 as cabin crew with XL Airways, but quickly moved on to British Airways where I spent 10 years developing my skillset within the Cabin Crew community and as a Safety Instructor. In 2016 I decided to step out of my comfort zone and join SkyPeople Training where I was able to experience a diverse learning culture within safety training.

Learning and Development within airlines has always been something that intrigues me and continually makes me question – How do we effectively deliver learning within an industry that is fantastically diverse and so highly regulated?

My career in more recent times has taken me down the Learning and Development route – which has enabled me to explore this question even further, working alongside other regulators outside of aviation including Ofsted and Ofqual supporting the delivery of Cabin Crew apprenticeships and End Point Assessments.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 2

Adapting to Generation Z

Adapting to new generations entering the workforce isn’t something new. It always comes with its challenges. “The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise”…this extract could have been said today, however, it is attributed from the Socrates in the 4^th Century BC.

In this session we explore why in a multi-generational workforce, there is potential for negative stereo typing, and challenge what aviation needs to do to ensure onboard safety is not affected and a ‘Just Culture’ remains a focus.

Generation Z is certainly taking the world ‘by storm’ with their digitally sophisticated approach to life. This new generation is exciting; they are more eager to learn, more creative and highly independent. They’ve also lived through an era of booming entrepreneurship, which makes the GenZers, more innovative and entrepreneurial than previous generations. However, the industry is finding these behaviours challenging; so what needs to be done to support the diversity of generations in the workplace to ensure standards do not slip.

We will investigate learning approaches, neurodiversity, the importance of Inclusion, Diversity and Equality within crew learning and why it is important for airlines and training organisations to consider the importance of these topics. The surge in virtual learning and CBT modules, have supported aviation through COVID, but are these methods still working or do we need to reach out to VR and AI to enhance the learner’s experience. We evaluate how other industries approach these challenges and what we need from regulators to achieve impactful learning.

David Jones leads cutting edge technology integration across commercial and government research and development efforts. As a founder and President of Quantified Design Solutions, he leads the development and integration of technology to support the Training Systems Design and Development and Advanced Support Technologies groups. He has served as a Principal Investigator for the Office of Naval Research, Army, and Office of the Secretary of Defense efforts focused on the development of adaptive virtual, mixed reality, and constructive training platforms. David’s work focuses on the application of modeling and simulation to support the measurement and optimization of learner states. Over the past 17 years, he has led advanced research efforts for the DoD, commercial clients, and universities and has presented his work at international conferences. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Factors Psychology from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida. He has published over 50 technical publications and peer-reviewed journal articles and 4 book chapters based on his work and has presented at conferences including MODSIM World(Norfolk, VA), WATS (Orlando), I/ITSEC (Orlando, FL), the AR/VR Aviation Summit (Geneva, Switzerland), Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (multiple locations), Society for Applied Learning Technologies (Reston, VA), Human Computer Interaction International (Las Vegas, NV), and the International Conference on Audio Displays (Limerick, Ireland). David was the Deputy Conference Chair for MODSIM World 2019 and Conference Chair for MODSIM World 2020.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

Virtually There: A Journey in Cabin Crew Training

Virtual Reality technology provides a more effective, cost-saving learning solution for airline training. With over four years of VR integration blended into a formal training environment, we have early evidence to support the effectiveness of VR technology to teach door opening and emergency procedures to flight attendants. We saw a significant increase in scores from measuring new flight attendants performing a series of tasks immediately after VR training. Also, using constantly evolving technology such as standalone headsets, muti-button hand controls, and improved graphics quality have made it difficult to set standards; however, we have begun to identify and define best practices for Virtual Reality-based training.

How can airlines harness the power of Virtual Reality while remaining grounded in skill-based training and assessments?

This presentation will cover the past, current and future journey of using Virtual Reality for cabin crew training. We will feature a live Virtual Reality presentation. A development team from American Airlines and Quantified Design will cover the results of flight attendant surveys and the corresponding data analysis. These results include flight attendant behavior changes, flight attendant engagement, human factors, and overall core competency improvements. We discuss the technology transition from tethered to standalone headsets and the decisions that led us to that change. Then, we will review implementation challenges and some of the solutions and practical application use cases we had to overcome. Some of these choices helped us to set up the architectural framework to support future iterations. Finally, we will cover important lessons learned in establishing the current and future implementation of integrated classroom and Virtual Reality training. Immediately following the presentation, we will have an open question-and-answer session.

After obtaining an MSc in Occupational Psychology in 2013, Aleksandra has been working in aviation gaining a wide range of experience in European assessments and selection programs of cadets and active pilots whilst working with a range of airlines, aviation companies and training organisations. Aleksandra is an EAAP accredited Aviation Psychologist, an assessor and KSA100 assessment specialist.

Pilot Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

Enhancing Pilot Psychological Assessments Through Virtual Reality Technologies: Game Changer for ATOs and Airlines

In the rapidly evolving world of aviation, the importance of accurate and comprehensive psychological assessments for pilots cannot be overstated. This speech delves into the transformative potential of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies in revolutionizing pilot psychological assessments, as viewed through the lens of aviation psychology. It highlights how VR can be a game-changer for flight schools and airlines, offering unparalleled benefits for pilot selection and training while aligning with the emerging Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) approach.

Virtual Reality offers a dynamic platform for aviation psychologists to conduct assessments that mimic real-world flight scenarios with unprecedented realism. By immersing candidates in VR environments that simulate various inflight situations, aviation psychologists can gain valuable insights into their decision-making processes, stress management, and interpersonal skills.

Furthermore, this speech explores how VR can provide a controlled environment to assess pilot responses to emergencies, ultimately enhancing the safety of air travel. It allows aviation professionals to evaluate candidates under stress, offering a more accurate representation of their performance in critical situations.

The benefits extend beyond selection. Flight schools and airlines can use VR-based assessments to continually monitor and improve their pilots’ psychological well-being, ensuring a resilient and high-performing workforce.

In the context of the CBTA approach, Virtual Reality aligns perfectly with its principles of competency-based evaluation. By focusing on measurable competencies and performance outcomes, VR assessments enable a more objective and standardized evaluation of pilot candidates. This approach facilitates greater adaptability and responsiveness to the evolving demands of the aviation industry.

In conclusion, this speech emphasizes the pivotal role that Virtual Reality technologies can play in advancing pilot psychological assessments, benefiting flight schools, airlines, and the aviation industry as a whole. By embracing VR, aviation psychologists can contribute to safer skies, more competent pilots, and a transformative shift towards the future of CBTA in aviation training and assessment.

Stephan started his flight training in 1991 with initial pilot training in France & the USA and then started his career in 1994 flying on different turboprop operations. From 1997 to 2004 he flew for French Charter operators on the B737 & A330, before joining 2 national carriers in the United Arab Emirates and also in China flying the A320 & A330.

Stephan joined Airbus in 2011 as TRI on the A320/A330 and became Head of TRIs & Head of Airbus Europe Training Centre prior to his current position.

He is current on A320 A330 A350 & A380 as well as TRI & TRE on A320 A330 & A350.

Since 1995 he has been particularly involved in Human Factors, CRM and Emergency Response system research and training, as well as the implementation of new training concepts such as CBTA.

Pilot Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 5

Instructors & CBTA: Sharing Best Practice

It is clear to say that CBTA is high on everyone’s agenda in our industry, everyone is talking about it. There is however, an aspect that we all know is important, but remains an area requiring a deeper focus: the efficient acknowledgment, onboarding & integration of CBTA by instructors. Many instructors are challenged by the new approach and the real change in mindset that is required. We have taken a step back to review & share our own experience, our lessons learnt and how a re-focus on accompanying the change with our instructors can make a difference.

Thomas Leoff is the Chair of the International Association of Aviation Personnel Schools (IAAPS) and Manager Training Standards within Lufthansa Aviation Training. He has been in the aviation training business since 1991 and is a recognized expert in day-to-day practical training management as well as in the field of developing the future training environment. Since 2001, he is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

He is a member of EASA’s Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB) and in this function an industry observer in the EASA Management Board’s PAR group (Programming and Resources Advisory Group).

He is the Chair of EASA’s Flight Standards Technical Committee (FS.TEC) and a member of the Aircrew Training Policy Group (ATPG), and FS.TEC sub-group. He is also a member of EASA’s Commercial Aeroplane Safety Committee (CAS.COM).

He is actively involved in RMT.0194 and EASA’s task force on the integration of Theoretical Knowledge Instruction and Practical Training in integrated ATP courses.

ATO Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

Keynote Presentation

Stuart Lowe is the Co-founder and CEO of Force Air Defence and has a wealth of experience. His skills have been developed over more than 30 years and stem from a genuine passion for martial arts where he holds the rank of 4th Dan and the desire to promote safety and confidence in others. His practical knowledge has been built up from his training in the British Army – including training with Special Forces after leaving the Army, Close Protection – including Body Guard experience and Security, Boxing, Ju-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Wing Chun, KSCKM, FAST to name a few. In addition to the practical defence knowledge, Stuart has also studied the psychological side of defence to help assist people who have suffered at the hands of others and help them to take back control of their feelings or dismiss fears.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 5

Self Defence and Restraints for Cabin Crew

Force Air Defence provides self-defence training techniques tailored to protect cabin crew within the work environment but all techniques are applicable to every day situations as well. With Cabin Crew often finding themselves with new and fascinating places to explore, it is sensible to arm them with as much knowledge and practical experience as possible to help them to remain safe and be capable of dealing with any unfortunate incidents

Stuart Lowe, Kathleen Reid, Co-founders of Force Air Defence will be joined by one of their qualified Trainers, Sam Martin to perform a short demonstration for the audience.

The demonstration is less than 5 minutes long as a selection of moves are performed to show options available to deal with unruly passengers.

Following the demonstration an interactive workshop will be held where the audience will be invited to partner up, as Stuart Lowe leads a training session covering response to some common attacks.

The training will be suitable for all abilities and each participant will take home with them a snapshot of how to respond to some common unpleasant situations, when de-escalation negotiation does not solve the problem.

Dr Eva Maleviti is an Assistant Professor and the Program Coordinator of the MS in Sustainability in Aviation & Aerospace at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She has been employed as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University since June 2017. She has been an academic in higher education for over 14 years in British, USA, and Greek Academic Institutions. For nine years, she has been working as an academic coordinator and instructor at the Training Directorate of Hellenic Aerospace Industry, an EASA Part 147 Approved Maintenance Training Organization.

Dr Maleviti has taught and developed various aviation-related courses covering safety and quality management systems, human factors in aviation maintenance, risk management in aviation, aviation legislation (EASA IR Part 66/147), a wide range of EASA Part 66 Modules; also environmental management systems for aerospace organizations, and waste management practices for aerospace. Since 2019 she has been a technical expert for the ICAO CORSIA scheme with the Hellenic Accreditation System. She has an extensive experience as an aviation consultant in several air operators and maintenance organizations, offering sustainability strategy development, ESG reporting and various tailor-made aviation training. She is an IRCA certified Lead Auditor for Quality Management Systems, and a Lead Auditor in 9100D – Quality Management Systems for Aviation, Space, and Defense Organizations. She holds a Private Pilot’s License (A)and a UAS License Specific Category C, and she is a Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, UK. Her research interests are in sustainable aviation, sustainable development, environmental and energy management in aviation facilities, environmental & quality management, social sustainability and aviation corporate sustainability management, among others.

ATO Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 5

Sustainable ATO’s – Flying to Net Zero

Net Zero Pathways and goals apply to all aviation industry sectors. Emission schemes, design specifications and sustainable fuels are some of the most popular changes applied to airlines and manufacturers. However, from the sustainability perspective, all aviation operations and organizations can contribute to Net Zero goals and define their contribution to that direction with direct or indirect practices and approaches. The core topic of this presentation is how ATOs/pilot schools contribute to the Net Zero Goals and a Sustainable Aviation future. New technologies used in ATOs, like Synthetic Flight Training, Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR), are examples of sustainable transformation of the training process. ATOs could also contribute to environmental and economic sustainability through the social element-the people. Today’s trainees are tomorrow’s pilots who should be the leaders of sustainable air operations. The ICAO Carbon Offsetting Requirement Scheme for International Airlines (CORSIA) and EU-Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) rely heavily on reliable information for the operators’ MRV system. Proper emission calculation requires pilots to feed valid and accurate flight information data. ATOs play a decisive role in aviation sustainability, creating and supporting an emerging sustainable culture for young pilots. Issues addressed include ATOs’ contribution to Net Zero goals, how ATOs can transform the existing culture and enhance a new one through their training without compromising safety, and finally, how ATOs can become sustainable organizations as training schools and as facilities.

Andy’s background and passion span both technology and aviation training. He has over 20 years and 10,000 flying hours on the A320 family aircraft culminating in a variety of pilot training and management roles. In technology, he’s a strong industry advocate of agile software best practices and how they can be applied effectively to aviation. And, as an expert on EBT, CBTA, and ABLE, he sat as a member of the IATA EBT Core Group, as an advisor to EASA RMT.0599 and the EASA ABLE concept paper. He is currently the Chairperson of the European Aircrew Training Policy Group (ATPG) and in 2023, has taken up the position of Head of Training of a major European ATO.

Combined Session (Pilot/ATO/Cabin Crew)
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 1

After graduating from Utrecht University as a Geographer, Lynn Nijsten commenced flight training and afterwards started her flying career as a Flight Instructor. Later, she joined Brussels Airlines as First Officer on the A320. Nowadays, she also works as Instructor and Crew Training Expert.

Besides her flying career, Lynn is an advocate for inclusion by being an active community member and mentor for aerospace professionals. In both her roles as trainer and mentor, she works on the interserction of training and inclusion.

Combined Session (Pilot/ATO/Cabin Crew)
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 8

Gender and Diversity in Flight Operations and Training

Diversity in flight operations and the training environment are becoming a reality. People from various backgrounds find their way to the airline cockpit and this has implications for our work as pilots and trainers. It’s a new reality in which we have to actively work on as a trainer community. By the use of principles such as intersectionality and introducing a stepped approach in embracing inclusion, we can make the airline cockpit and the training environment a place where everyone feels at home.

Ivan Noël is the president and founder of Inflight Innovations Inc. and the Inflight Institute.com. With a focus on efficiency, his company produces some of the world’s most innovative programs by inventing and implementing advanced training technologies.

Starting his career in aviation on the front lines as a cabin crew member has provided him with a unique perspective of the industry and the opportunity to effect change through the development of advanced learning methods, interactive training techniques and the advancement of Competency-Based Training and Assessments. He is known as the architect of Pre-qualification training for Cabin Crew with dozens of member airlines worldwide and hundreds of thousands of users over the past three decades.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

A Profitable Airline is a Safe Airline – How Competency-Based Training and Assessments Play a Vital Role

Early in my aviation career, I heard this quote from a Transportation Minister. It moved me to learn more; I discovered that a financially stable operation could provide the best innovative training with an eye on efficiency and quality.

This presentation will focus on the advancements in Cabin Crew training with an eye on how Competency-Based Training and Assessments can bridge the gap between training efficiency and improving safety and performance.

Be part of this captivating session, where we’ll exchange ideas and gain a profound understanding of how enhancing profitability can improve the safety of air travel. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be at the forefront of progress!

Nuno Nogueira is the Deputy head of training at Bartolini Air.

With a background in engineering Nuno is a career flight instructor with 5000 hours flight instruction given for all ab-initio courses.

Nuno was a speaker at Pilot-Expo for the past three years, having mainly focused on educating young pilots-to-be on the differences between modular and integrate training, as well as how to navigate EASA regulation to find relevant information. Nuno has also participated in discussion panels both in Pilot-Expo and Pilot-careers live with other industry professional to discuss several topics affecting the industry and to answer questions from pilots-to-be.

ATO Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

Tackling the Instructor Shortage

With the post-covid surge in demand for air travel, and airlines placing orders for new aircraft in record numbers the demand for aircrew has been at some of the highest levels ever seen. And while this may, at a superficial level, seem like good news for ATOs providing ab-initio training, the paradox is that the same demand that makes the business outlook good, is also one of the main threats that ab-initio ATOs face.

This surge in demand, causes pilots that are currently working as flight instructors to consider an immediate move to the airlines as the next step in their careers, causes pilots that would otherwise have instructed for a few years before eventually moving to the airlines to apply immediately and skip the instructing step, and pilots who are already working for air carriers to be less available due to heavy rosters that keep them away from instructing.

This is a lesson we have learned the hard way last year and having seen this as an existential threat have implemented several measures to try and mitigate it going forward. Those measures were justified when the situation this year proved to be even more challenging. However, we managed not only to avoid the problem entirely, but to grow the number of available instructors for all levels of ab-initio training.

The main goal of this presentation will be to present the measures taken and how they were received by instructors, how to implement them, and hopefully to start a discussion on how can ab-Initio ATOs work together to further mitigate this threat.

Karl is an aviation professional with over 24 years in the airline industry. Hailing from Dublin, he studied Business Law at UCD, Dublin and subsequently completed a Masters in Business Management & Leadership at the UCD Smurfit Business School, Dublin.

Karl has flown several commercial aircraft namely the Bae146, AVRO RJ, Airbus A319, A320, A321 and Airbus A330. He has held several airline management positions including Chief Instructor, Flight Training Manager and Head of Training.

He presently is Chief Instructor ATO with Aer Lingus in Dublin with Pilot Recruitment under his remit. In his operational capacity, he is a Senior Type Rating Examiner/Instructor on the Airbus A320 fleet. He has been involved in many innovative projects including the introduction of Evidence Based Training, Competency Based Training and MPL Cadet Training at Aer Lingus.

He is also a former Secretary and current member of the EASA Aircrew Training Policy Group.

He is a keen cyclist and avid sports fan. He spends is free time coaching as a certified GAA and Rugby coach.

ATO Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

MPL Funded Programme

Andy spent 28 years in Ryanair with 18 of those years as Head of Training. He served as Chair of the EASA Aircrew Training Policy Group for 5 years and is leading the ATPG ATO and Environment subgroup. He is the CEO of The Airline Pilot Club, a company he established and which is designed to introduce the airline pilot career to a diverse and global population by breaking down barriers to entry for students and raising standards among global ATOs.

ATO (Approved Training Organisation) Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

Embracing the Future of Commercial Aviation – Understanding Gen Z in Aviation 

Generation Z, the cohort born between 1997 and 2010, is poised to reshape the landscape of the commercial aviation industry. By 2025, Gen Z is projected to represent more than a quarter of the global workforce. This presentation delves into the imperative for the aviation industry to adapt and embrace Gen Z’s unique characteristics, priorities, and expectations.

As Gen Z enters the workforce, their values and aspirations differ from previous generations. They prioritize factors such as competitive compensation, workplace flexibility, opportunities for career development, and a sense of purpose in their chosen profession. For the commercial aviation sector, reimagining these aspects can attract and retain the next generation of talented pilots and aviation professionals.

Mental health and well-being have become significant considerations in the modern workplace. Gen Z values a supportive and inclusive work environment that fosters employee well-being. The commercial aviation industry must recognize and address mental health concerns, providing resources and support systems to enable Gen Z employees to thrive both personally and professionally.

Gen Z has grown up with ubiquitous social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. These channels play a pivotal role in shaping their perceptions and decisions. To connect with Gen Z, the commercial aviation industry should harness social media as a means to build supportive communities, share industry insights, and promote opportunities in aviation careers.

The traditional pathways of aviation training and development may not resonate with Gen Z’s learning preferences. Embracing innovative, technology-driven training methods and personalized learning experiences can enhance the appeal of aviation careers and ensure the industry remains agile and attractive to this emerging workforce.

Gen Z exhibits a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. For commercial aviation to thrive, it must actively foster an inclusive culture that welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. A more inclusive industry will not only attract Gen Z talent but also lead to fresh ideas and increased innovation.

The commercial aviation industry stands on the cusp of transformative change with the advent of Generation Z. Embracing their values, preferences, and aspirations will be crucial for securing the future workforce of aviation. By adapting its practices, policies, and communication strategies, the industry can ensure its readiness to welcome and empower Gen Z to lead the way in shaping the future of commercial aviation.

ATO (Approved Training Organisation) Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

Financing of Training

Andy O’Shea will discuss the ATPG’s efforts to address the problem of funding pilot training and how, later in the Airline Pilot Club, Andy assembled a powerful group of entities to continue that work. We hope that this talk will generate a discussion and perhaps some novel ideas about removing or lowering this obdurate barrier to entry to the airline pilot career.

Darryl Owens is a retired 33-year veteran police officer with the Boston Police department in the United States and the Co-owner of Empower Communications Group. He is a highly respected police officer and trainer who is considered one of the best communication strategies and use of force instructors in the New England region. Mr. Owens holds both state and nationally recognized certifications and has a dedication to excellence that is recognized by his peers. Mr. Owens is the author and instructor of the Boston Police Academy Communication Strategies Course that is currently being taught to all police recruits. He has served as the lead defensive tactics and use of force instructor at the Boston Police Academy for 19 years. As a law enforcement trainer, he holds several instructor certifications in disciplines such as:

• Force Science Institute de-escalation instructor.
• Force Science Institute advanced use of force analyst
• Communication Strategies instructor
• Defensive tactics / use of force instructor.
• SPEAR (Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response)
• Edge weapon awareness and defense instructor
• 40 years’ experience in different disciplines of martial arts

In early 2021, as a response to the increased number of unruly passenger incidents that were occurring in the airline industry, “Communication Strategies for Airline Professionals” was created by Darryl Owens and Jose Alfonso. The course was taught to Spirit Airlines flight attendants and guest service agents from September of 2021 through June 2022 and is currently being used during flight attendant initial training.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

Reality Based Training – The Evolution of Cabin Crew Training

To prepare our cabin crew for the challenges that they are facing we need to make sure that our training reflects real life challenges. Let me give you an example. In the last two years we have asked cabin crew trainers regarding how flight attendants are trained when using restraints (Flex cuffs, etc.) the response is pretty much the same across the board. The training is done in a static (Vanilla) environment. As trainers who have been developing and conducting reality-based training for 20 years we can say without a doubt that the only thing that is accomplished in the training of restraints in a static environment is training scars. Simply put, we need to duplicate both the physical and physiological environment that is experienced in a real-world situation when we are trying to restrain someone. In this workshop we will identify and discuss:

1. What is reality-based training?
2. The use of stress inoculation in training
3. How stress inoculation benefits cabin crew training.
4. Building blocks for a successful reality-based training program.
5. Creating a safe training environment.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 5

LOUDER – De-escalation Workshop

At this year’s European Airline Training Symposium, we will be introducing the LOUDER principle. The LOUDER principle is part of our de-escalation strategies course “Communication Strategies for Airline Professionals” that we created in 2021 as a direct response to a study by the Federal Aviation Administration on unruly passengers. The objective of the course is to empower airline professionals with real skills and awareness to manage difficult situations while remaining safe and facilitating the de-escalation of guests/passenger’s behaviors when in crisis. Our workshop will revolve around our acronym called LOUDER (Listen to what the passenger is saying, Observe body language, Understand the message, De-escalate the emotion, Empathize with the passenger, Respond professionally). This will be an interactive workshop that will include audience participation.

Ali Preissinger leads the development team producing all web-based training and media for American Airlines’ cabin crew members. In this position, she heads the project to upgrade and expand the virtual reality training program. AA began including virtual reality as a part of its Flight Attendant Initial Qualification Program in 2018. The system recently received a technology upgrade, and Ali is in the process of working to expand the use of virtual reality in other areas of AA’s cabin crew training program. Studies conducted on AA’s use of virtual reality for initial cabin crew training show an increase in scores for learners that use virtual reality training versus those that do not for door operation training. While managing this project, Ali discovered the limitations and advantages of utilizing virtual reality for cabin crew training. She is passionate about sharing lessons learned and training outcomes to support effective training solutions across all industries.

Ali has worked in the media, technology, and training fields for over 20 years. She is a United States Air Force veteran, and she worked on the Tech Ops training team in a previous role at American Airlines. In that position, Ali was instrumental in creating the first lesson plans for AA’s aircraft maintenance training virtual reality program as it was spun up. Ali holds a Master of Science degree in Learning Technologies, Instructional Design (University of North Texas) and Bachelor of Science degrees in both Computer Science (University of Arkansas Grantham) and Web Design & Interactive Media (The Art Institute of Pittsburgh). She is also qualified as a flight attendant.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

Virtually There: A Journey in Cabin Crew Training

Virtual Reality technology provides a more effective, cost-saving learning solution for airline training. With over four years of VR integration blended into a formal training environment, we have early evidence to support the effectiveness of VR technology to teach door opening and emergency procedures to flight attendants. We saw a significant increase in scores from measuring new flight attendants performing a series of tasks immediately after VR training. Also, using constantly evolving technology such as standalone headsets, muti-button hand controls, and improved graphics quality have made it difficult to set standards; however, we have begun to identify and define best practices for Virtual Reality-based training.

How can airlines harness the power of Virtual Reality while remaining grounded in skill-based training and assessments?

This presentation will cover the past, current and future journey of using Virtual Reality for cabin crew training. We will feature a live Virtual Reality presentation. A development team from American Airlines and Quantified Design will cover the results of flight attendant surveys and the corresponding data analysis. These results include flight attendant behavior changes, flight attendant engagement, human factors, and overall core competency improvements. We discuss the technology transition from tethered to standalone headsets and the decisions that led us to that change. Then, we will review implementation challenges and some of the solutions and practical application use cases we had to overcome. Some of these choices helped us to set up the architectural framework to support future iterations. Finally, we will cover important lessons learned in establishing the current and future implementation of integrated classroom and Virtual Reality training. Immediately following the presentation, we will have an open question-and-answer session.

An experienced pilot, Chris has been involved in pilot training and management for over 20 years, in an aviation career spanning more than 30 years.

During his career, he has led the operations and training departments at several airlines, where he was instrumental in the introduction of innovative training concepts such as AQP, EBT and MPL.

In his current role, he is responsible for leading CAE’s Civil Global Training Organisation, including Regulatory Affairs, Training Policy & Learning Science, Aviation Safety, Quality Assurance and Training Performance.

A former CAT Magazine Pioneer award winner, Chris holds a Masters degree in aviation management and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Pilot Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

The Use of Eye Tracking Technologies and Data in Support of CBTA

For many years, the training industry and airlines have expressed and pursued initiatives to explore how eye tracking technologies could be used to better understand student or trainee scan behaviours. This knowledge could benefit training, especially since these scans are not easily observed by an instructor. As scans are highly correlated with tasking, the opportunity arises to delve into scan relationships with complex aircraft, systems, and procedures.

Pure experiential driven approaches may be melded with effective data analysis to yield insight into complexities such as “What does safe and good look like?” or “Did the student observe and crosscheck the FMS mode change”, or “What is being monitored?”. Systemic benefits in instructional delivery, retention, and competency expertise could ensue, allowing airlines safety thresholds to be defended.

This interest has been further accelerated by the transition of airlines to Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBTA), with a stronger focus on Threat Error Management (TEM) in multi-crew environments. Data-driven methods in support of the evaluation of TEM and non-technical competencies and behaviours are essential but presently data scarce.

This presentation outlines the methodology applied and the results of a collaboration conducted by Singapore Airlines (SIA) and CAE during which SIA crew were studied while utilizing two simulators equipped with eye tracking technology to determine the value and limitations of adopting gaze tracking data for pilot monitoring as additional support in the evaluation of CBTA principles in training.

Jesper Rasmussen is Flight Standards Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). He is responsible for the development of regulations and standardisation of EU National Authorities in the domains of Aircraft Maintenance, Production, Operations, Aircrew, Aerodromes and Air Traffic Management. His responsibilities will also cover the approval of organisations outside of the EU in these domains.

Prior to joining EASA in 2017, Jesper Rasmussen was the deputy director general in the Danish multi-sectoral national authority, where he since 2012 has been responsible for aviation safety as well as railway safety. In this function, he has been a member of the EASA Management Board and represented his country on aviation safety affairs at EU and ICAO level.

Before entering into aviation, Jesper Rasmussen occupied for 20 years other posts in the Danish central government administration, both in the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Industry, where he was responsible for such domains as road traffic and the construction sector.

The broad cross-sectoral experience has provided Jesper Rasmussen with a range of tools covering risk analysis, effectiveness of regulation and oversight methods. He has always worked with the objective of supporting industry development and innovation, which can be a challenge in such highly regulated sectors. In this respect, he prefers a close dialogue between authority and stakeholders as key to decide where to change things first.

During the lsat couple of years he has actively endeavoured to move the Danish NAA from being compliance-based to being more risk and performance-based in oversight practice – as an effort to give more responsibility and room for innovation to industry.

He holds a Ph.D. in social sciences from the University of Roskilde, Denmark.

Combined Session (Pilot/ATO/Cabin Crew)
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 1

Kathleen Reid has worked in the energy industry for over 30 years and with the entrance to the aviation industry she has drawn many parallels between the two sectors. She notes the complexity and constant change within both industries provides continual challenges and delivers ongoing rewards that drive her on to the next focus point. Kathleen recognises, that at the heart of the successful organisations operating in these areas, the value laid on customer facing and customer servicing teams is of utmost importance. As Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder of Force Air Defence, she is keen to assist companies wishing to invest in the safety and well-being of their staff and by so doing she will help these companies deliver a safer space for their employees and customers. Using transferable project management skills Kathleen has ensured that the concept of Force Air Defence Training Scheme has been set up as a successful, effective and evolving option available to the aviation industry.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 5

Self Defence and Restraints for Cabin Crew

Force Air Defence provides self-defence training techniques tailored to protect cabin crew within the work environment but all techniques are applicable to every day situations as well. With Cabin Crew often finding themselves with new and fascinating places to explore, it is sensible to arm them with as much knowledge and practical experience as possible to help them to remain safe and be capable of dealing with any unfortunate incidents

Stuart Lowe, Kathleen Reid, Co-founders of Force Air Defence will be joined by one of their qualified Trainers, Sam Martin to perform a short demonstration for the audience.

The demonstration is less than 5 minutes long as a selection of moves are performed to show options available to deal with unruly passengers.

Following the demonstration an interactive workshop will be held where the audience will be invited to partner up, as Stuart Lowe leads a training session covering response to some common attacks.

The training will be suitable for all abilities and each participant will take home with them a snapshot of how to respond to some common unpleasant situations, when de-escalation negotiation does not solve the problem.

Bryce Romero develops web-based training and media for American Airlines’ Inflight team. In addition to development work, he supports learning management system administration plus digital and virtual reality delivery initiatives designed to complement and enhance cabin crew competency and familiarization. Having recently qualified as a flight attendant, he brings experiential learning experience from both developer and learner engagement perspectives through previous work with AA’s Technical Operations VR and Top Wrench on-demand video platforms. Forever a learner and advocate, he applies principles learned during his graduate work in Diplomacy, Law, and Global at Coventry University and undergraduate work in International Communications at Texas Christian University to deliver innovative, collaborative, effective training that supports all learners.

He previously presented on best practices for students in international experiential learning at the Big XII LGBTQIA and Allies Summit (2022).

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

Virtually There: A Journey in Cabin Crew Training

Virtual Reality technology provides a more effective, cost-saving learning solution for airline training. With over four years of VR integration blended into a formal training environment, we have early evidence to support the effectiveness of VR technology to teach door opening and emergency procedures to flight attendants. We saw a significant increase in scores from measuring new flight attendants performing a series of tasks immediately after VR training. Also, using constantly evolving technology such as standalone headsets, muti-button hand controls, and improved graphics quality have made it difficult to set standards; however, we have begun to identify and define best practices for Virtual Reality-based training.

How can airlines harness the power of Virtual Reality while remaining grounded in skill-based training and assessments?

This presentation will cover the past, current and future journey of using Virtual Reality for cabin crew training. We will feature a live Virtual Reality presentation. A development team from American Airlines and Quantified Design will cover the results of flight attendant surveys and the corresponding data analysis. These results include flight attendant behavior changes, flight attendant engagement, human factors, and overall core competency improvements. We discuss the technology transition from tethered to standalone headsets and the decisions that led us to that change. Then, we will review implementation challenges and some of the solutions and practical application use cases we had to overcome. Some of these choices helped us to set up the architectural framework to support future iterations. Finally, we will cover important lessons learned in establishing the current and future implementation of integrated classroom and Virtual Reality training. Immediately following the presentation, we will have an open question-and-answer session.

Adam started his aviation career in 1995 as ‘summer only’ cabin crew with Airtours International on its 757s flying out of Glasgow. Along with his experience as cabin crew on larger jets he also operated as single crew on turboprops with British Airways franchise cityflyer Express at Gatwick on the ATR42 and 72, progressing to Line Trainer there. Became Safety Training Manager at Astraeus during its start-up and growth from 2001 to 2006, flying regularly alongside his management responsibilities. Joined Zoom Airlines in the same management role through its start-up and regulatory approvals to fly 767 aircraft and operated as Cabin Manager.

Adam then joined the UK CAA as a Cabin Safety Inspector in 2009. After intensive training and rigorous CAA sign-off processes became a cabin safety inspector, undertaking inspections and audits on a wide range of UK operators, including the introduction of the 787 and A380 to UK AOC holders. Represented the CAA on the cabin crew CHIRP programme, attended EASA rulemaking task groups and provided regulatory oversight of cabin operations of UK airlines flying Hajj contracts.

In 2015, joined easyjet as Training Manager – Safety, Security & First Aid, and has been responsible for developments in the airline’s training methodology and delivery. Adam has extensive knowledge of EASA CS25 and an understanding of Part M and Part 145 through aircraft delivery and into service checks, gained from both an operator’s and a regulator’s perspective.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 2

Re-imagining Training

If you want a different outcome, you need to do things differently.

Our training strategy is at the core of what we do and enables us to challenge the status quo. It gives us direction, purpose and aligns with what we aiming to achieve as a business and is particularly important when working in an organisation that has grown so exponentially.

How did we create a scalable and sustainable positive learning environment that continuously stives to improve training effectiveness for all?

We focused on 3 key areas:

1. Understanding our customers’ needs

We changed the way in which we train our cabin crew with positive results.

Changing from the traditional training and checking method to coach to competency whereby crew use self-analyse we build better knowledge, resilience and confidence within our cabin crew community.

So how have we done this – we put the trainee at the centre of the learning, the instructor is merely the facilitator.

Our crew identify through peer to peer debrief discussions where they can improve with minimal input from the instructor. They own their feedback and voluntarily want to recomplete the exercise again to better themselves.

2. Supporting and Developing our instructor community

It is imperative to have the right people in the right roles at the right time. In the last two years we’ve grown from 44 instructors training in 2 locations to over 250 training at 28 bases. Embedding our instructor competencies and matrix has been paramount to what we have achieved. We also created the Instructor Development Team to support this, with a real focus on training, more than checking.

3. Enabling innovation

Having the right practical tools to do their job is key to successfully embedding CBT. We are looking to do this in several ways:

• Introducing Mixed VR into Fire Training
• A new facility that our team and fellow crew deserve

Captain Cameron Ruckley is a Training Manager responsible for Operational Standards with easyJet Airlines. An active line pilot, line training captain, Type Rating Instructor and Type Rating Examiner on A320 series aircraft as well as Instructor Development Pilot. He has held several management roles within the easyJet training department supporting the continual development of both pilot and instructor training. He has spoken on behalf of the training department at several internal easyJet conferences including a Flight Operations Conference.

Pilot Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

easyJet – Turning Theory into Practice; Using Data Effectively to Demonstrably Improve Recurrent Pilot Training and Flight Safety

In a world of data overload, airline training departments face real challenges to up-skill themselves to be able to effectively use information sources to make meaningful decisions to improve flight-safety.

With the opportunities that CBTA and EBT bring to improve training effectiveness and flight safety, many airlines face challenges to implement and materialise the benefits of these industry shifts. Capt. Cameron Ruckley will share what easyJet has learned about the practicalities and challenges of collecting, analysing and leveraging numerous data sources across its operation to improve pilot recurrent training effectiveness.

Cameron will share what easyJet has learned on it’s journey towards EBT to help others embarking on the transition, providing practical advice and take-aways. The presentation will focus on:

1. How to collect and harmonise data to gain meaningful and useful insight.
Understanding what information is available and reliable, ensuring there is a common language between data sources and ultimately that this provides clear insight into operational risks.

2. How to design recurrent training that actually addresses the defined training need.
Transforming data into training objectives, using the correct tool for the training need and optimising a learning environment to promote pilot development.

3. How to measure training effectiveness, to drive continual improvement.
Creating an effective feedback loop to measure trainee experience, pilot performance and operational impact.

Gilad is a Senior First Officer on B747 with a longstanding passion for training and innovation. Under his responsibility, dedicated teams continuously shape first-class training for all Lufthansa Group Airlines as well as customers of Lufthansa Aviation Training. From SEP training to EBT, it is his primary objective to follow a competency-driven and trainee-centric approach.

As one of the initial members of the EASA RMT.0196 training sub-group, he has contributed to providing more flexibility and future-oriented training options for training organizations. Joint projects together with renowned research and industry partners illustrate his vision to collaboratively evolve aviation training and safety.

Pilot Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 7

XR Training in 2023: Use Cases, Challenges and Successes

Lufthansa Aviation Training and Airbus have been pioneers in the development and deployment of XR solutions in industry today. Using immersive technologies, Lufthansa have trained 80,000+ cabin crew since 2018, operated a Brunner DA42 FSTD demonstrator, and have closely collaborated with Airbus on their Virtual Procedure Trainer (VPT).

Together they share their motivations, challenges, and successes based on genuine research and data. Considering regulatory requirements as well as trainee feedback, the state of XR training in 2023 will be discussed.

Savio is a Senior Examiner and Standards Training Captain on the Airbus A380 with Emirates Airline and accumulated just under 20,000 flight hours. He held various management roles in Emirates Flight Training and implemented UPRT at Emirates in 2015. Beyond instructing UPRT in extended envelope full flight simulators, he undergoes regular on-aeroplane UPRT with Aviation Performance Solutions (APS) and is familiar with most UPRT platforms.

Savio holds a master’s degree in Air Transport and Air Safety Management from City University of London and is currently completing a master’s degree in occupational psychology at the University of Leicester.

Pilot Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 4

UPRT 2080

The title UPRT 2080 might suggest an outlook into the future of UPRT. Although, this will be touched upon, the focus of this presentation is on the critical imbalance between the cognitive and behavioral aspects in UPRT.

The principles of flight have not changed since the birds and neither has the human brain for the last 50,000 years. Both are the basis of UPRT. While some sources attribute 80% of loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) events to human factors, those are not effectively addressed in UPRT despite regulatory requirements and recommendations.

Instead, industry efforts have been focusing on upset prevention and the behavioral aspects of upset recovery. There is no doubt that prevention must be the primary focus of UPRT, but aeroplanes are not lost in prevention – they are lost in recovery. And more importantly, aeroplane control is lost and regained in the mind.

In stark contrast to training, in a real-life stall event the metaphorical cognitive AOA quickly exceeds the aerodynamic AOA. In order to regain some cognitive capacity to recognize the plight and respond with an appropriate, timely, and measured recovery strategy, prior recovery from the cognitive stall is a sine qua non.

Thus, the training of the mind (cognitive aspects) is equally important to effective and resilient UPRT than fundamental knowledge and deeply ingrained skills (behavioral aspects).

The focus on behavior in flight crew training is not isolated to UPRT, but immanent in CBTA and EBT(A) of which UPRT is an integral part.

The objective of my presentation is to advance a holistic approach to UPRT which treats the human and their machine as one unit and effectively integrates scientific research and practitioners’ experience in order to mitigate the threat of loss of control in-flight further.

Owen gained his commercial licence in 2002 at the Cabair College of Air Training, graduating top of his class in both flight and ground school. He joined the UK regional airline Flybe as a First Officer, working up through the ranks to become a captain, an instructor and an examiner.

In 2013 he was diagnosed with – and treated for – severe clinical depression. This experience gave him an insight into psychology and developed his interest in how the techniques of psychotherapy such as cognitive-behavioural or mindfulness might be used to enhance flight training. On that subject he has addressed EATS multiple times as well as APATS in Singapore and WATS in Florida. He has also worked with (amongst others) the RAF Cadets, the Ultimate High UPRT Academy, and the European Aviation Wellbeing Committee.

Following Flybe’s collapse in 2020 he was employed by Solent University in Southampton as their Senior Lecturer in Aviation. Now he is a consultant lecturer and instructor, currently contracted by L3Harris Airline Academy at their London Training Centre as a theoretical knowledge instructor. He has a degree in philosophy, a diploma in psychology, a postgraduate certificate in higher education and is a Fellow of the UK’s Higher Education Academy and Royal Aeronautical Society.

Pilot Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 4

Real-World Insight into Pilot Mental Health

Conversations about the importance of wellbeing and mental health in pilots are becoming more and more commonplace – and rightly so. Because of the wholly unnatural nature of human flight, pilots cannot rely unduly on their natural ‘animal’ instincts but must instead be in full command of their cognitive and reasoning faculties in order to keep themselves, their crew and their passengers safe. Put simply, poor mental health – whether short-term or more chronic – compromises that ability to think straight. Notwithstanding the effect this can have on performance and productivity, this is not merely an issue of principle or duty-of-care but a matter of direct importance to aviation safety.

Despite this, there remains a lack of clarity about the proper response to, or even the exact nature and scope of, the problem. This is partly because of a widely seen difference in attitude to mental health as opposed to physical health (not least the false distinction between the two); partly because of ignorance (some are unwilling to disclose information, others fear causing offense through asking questions); and partly because the aviation industry is reluctant to uncover too much of the truth about the situation. After all, tackling the question of pilot wellbeing may require significant change in how pilots are treated – not least how their training is funded.

Managing one’s wellbeing necessitates a minimal level of self-respect; for most normally functioning people, this must be supported by respect from others. One may question the extent to which the airline industry demonstrably respects its pilots. The purpose of this presentation is to offer a highly personal insight – based on experience – into mental health in aviation and the wholesale, radical shift in thinking and action which is necessary if the industry is serious about addressing the issue.

Sarah spoke at the EATS conference in 2018 regarding Cabin Crew Attestations. Sarah has Chaired and spoken at several conferences through the RAeS and the UK CAA Human Factors Advisory Panel. Sarah is a CRM Trainer and Examiner and a member of the Flight Crew Human Factors Advisory Panel to the CAA.

Sarah has a commercial airline and cabin crew background starting during the days when cabin crew were the inflight entertainment and people dressed up to go flying – then shell suits started!

Passionate about Human Factors and CRM, Sarah delivers training nto flight crew, cabin crew and develops instructors for operators and individuals globally.

We also work in healthcare and the rail industry. Competency based training and assessment is a major part of training we now deliver.

Pilot Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

A Deeper Insight into Flight Crew Competencies

LMQ were the original authors of the non-technical ICAO competencies and related OB’s, which are fundamental to any CBTA or EBT program. Our conference session will explain the history behind the competencies including how they were developed and validated. We will also challenge some of the changes that have been made by ICAO and explain why they might be inappropriate.

The session will start with a brief exercise involving the delegates, to demonstrate that our competencies are based on the experience but more importantly the language of real pilots flying real aircraft particularly in challenging situations. We will explain that this exercise was originally created to change the existing negative attitudes and lack of understanding of CRM.

We will then match what the delegates have created to the original outputs from hundreds of pilots and share our experience in multi-cultural environments. We will describe how the competencies and OBs were validated and their operational use over the last 20 years with many operators including Airbus Training. We will explain how the Competencies were selected by the EBT working group and their final adoption by ICAO as the Pilot Core Competencies.

Then we will challenge the unvalidated changes that ICAO made to some of the original OBs. We will show that some of the key OBs have been removed or the language changed, and others have been added that are either unobservable, unclear or duplication of others. Furthermore, these additions have created too many OBs that undermine the validity and effectiveness of the VENN grading process in EBT programs.

Founder and owner of NaviMinds (www.naviminds.com) – a leading provider of CRM and Teaching and Learning courses worldwide. NaviMinds also provide peer support via www.pilotpeersupportprogramme.com

I founded NaviMinds in 2012 with the aim of providing passionate and innovative CRM training for the aviation industry. Soon I realized that the focus on ambitious and innovative CRM and Human Factors training was immensely relevant not only for the aviation industry but for a wide range of safety critical industries.

My experience within aviation includes:
– 8 years as cabin attendant
– Commercial pilot since 1993
– Flight Instructor
– Simulator Flight Instructor B737
– Deputy Safety Officer and Chief of Human Factors Training in Primera Air
– Retired from Primera Air in 2016 as Captain Boeing 737

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 7

EPIGENETICS – The New Black! And Thoughts About New Ways to Train Resilience in Crew Members

A survey conducted with more than 1,000 pilots worldwide in 2019 found that 18% of pilots had moderate depression and 80% had moderate burnout!

Through our peer support programme (www.pilotpeersupportprogramme.com), we found that the majority of pilots who made contact with us reported stress-related problems, which in time can lead to depression or burnout. This leads me to the conclusion that we need to find a new way of dealing with the training of pilots.

If we want to train pilots to handle challenging jobs and stressful situations better, we need to help them build resilience.

How do we do that? This is where epigenetics come into play.

Scientists now have proof of how our thoughts can cause specific molecular changes in our genes. A new study by researchers in Wisconsin, Spain, and France reports evidence of specific molecular changes in the body following a period of intensive mindfulness practice.

After a mere eight hours of mindfulness practice, the meditators showed a range of genetic and molecular differences. This included altered levels of gene-regulating machinery as well as reduced levels of pro-inflammatory genes, which in turn correlated with faster physical recovery from a stressful situation. In fact, science reveals that we can change the fate of our cells by altering our thoughts.

In my presentation, I will expand on the above statements and give real-life and scientifically proven examples of how practising mindfulness can not only help overcome stress but also help pilots become more resilient.

Cengiz worked as a certifying staff in different airlines and maintenance organisations both in Turkey and in the UK from 1991 to 2002. He then held roles in Safety and Quality Departments in SR Technics UK Ltd and Flightline, a UK charter airline. Before he joined City University London as a Senior Lecturer and Wake QA as a part-time IOSA auditor in 2008, he was the nominated post holder for ‘Continuing Airworthiness’ in Flightline. Over the last 14 years, Cengiz had the opportunity to take part in IOSA audits of over 50 different airlines in North and South America, Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. In September 2015, he joined the ‘Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre’ and became the Course Director MSc Airworthiness in 2017. Since July 2019, he has been holding the position of ‘Quality Manager’ at the Cranfield University’s National Flying Laboratory Centre, which is a SPO Authorised Saab340B operator.

Cengiz has been a member of the UK Flight Safety Committee since 2010 and joined the ‘Executive Board’ as the Vice Chairman in 2015. Since 2021, he remained in the Executive Board as a non-executive member. Cengiz also has been representing the International Federation of Airworthiness (IFA) in European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Collaborative Analysis Groups for Commercial Air Transport and the Human Factors since their inception in 2016.

Cengiz currently holds BEng (Hons) Degree in Aircraft Engineering from Kingston University and MSc Air Transport Management from City University London. He chose the topic of ‘Risk Culture in Commercial Air Transport’ for his PhD research, which he is currently continuing at Cranfield University.

Cengiz has presented over 40 international conferences and symposiums since 2009

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 7

Transforming ‘Recurrent Training Sessions’ into Interactive Engagements to Gather ‘Safety Intelligence’

Almost all organisations in commercial air transport industry transformed their recurrent training into online training packages during the pandemic. While online training was inevitable because of the challenges faced due to the pandemic, many organisations continue to expect their frontline employees to complete a self-paced ‘computer-based training’ (CBT) package without any human interaction. During a recent exchange with senior managers in a large airline, they argued that they spent considerable amount of resource to create videos and content to develop such a CBT package for the individuals to sit in front of computer and go through the training on their own. The belief/argument that human beings learn on their own just by watching CBT packages is completely flawed. There is no doubt the CBT can add value in a supplementary way and some individuals can benefit from CBT much more than others but for many, human interaction is a pre-requisite for learning and development, and this is overlooked by many organisations.

At least a ‘one-day (ideally face to face in class or potentially in a virtual classroom) recurrent training’ should be the minimum standard for all operational professionals such as pilots, ATCOs, engineers etc. During such a training day, most of the sessions can be delivered to transfer new knowledge (updates to the procedures, lessons learned from internal and external accidents/serious incidents etc.) but workshop (e.g. a 2-hour interactive session) can/should be included to capture employees’ lived experiences about how they dealt with complex situations they faced and how/by whom the decisions were made and if those decisions were risk-based or not etc. While such a workshop can enable individuals to learn from each other during the training session, the real benefit can be achieved (particularly in large organisations) if these lived experiences are captured (shared confidentially or even anonymously) by a SenseMaker engagement, which enables the individuals analyse their own stories themselves (not by safety data analysts in safety departments). This can be a powerful safety intelligence to be fed into SMS of the organisation to better understand the operational risks the organisation is facing and manage them more proactively.

• Doctor in chemical, environmental and process engineering
• Masters degree in Teaching for Secondary School
• Masters degree in Research on Chemical Engineering
• Degree in Mathematics
• Diploma in Statistics

ATO Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 4

Virtual Reality Flight Simulators Versus a Conventional Flight Simulator Training Device

Virtual reality is a technology that has been proven to have advantages in the education field, but also showed some disadvantages to be taken into account. Particularly, in the aviation field, few airlines and flight schools have been using virtual reality as a novel tool for pilot training. However, all the scientific literature studying virtual reality in education does not focus on the singular case of pilot training.

In this talk we will present a scientific study to compare a virtual reality flight simulator (VRS) with a conventional flight simulator training device (FSTD) with objective and subjective data.

• Objective data: we put a wearable device to 30 student pilots to record their ElectroDermal Activity (EDA) during an unexpected engine failure. EDA is a good indicator of stress and has been related with engagement in learning tasks. We also take into account the student’s flight hours.
• Subjective data: the students also answer the NASA-TLX questionnaire after the experiments, to evaluate how demanding the task was, and how well they think their performance was. NASA-TLX is a questionnaire often used in the scientific aviation field.

We find that students significatively experience an increase in EDA when performing an emergency landing after an engine failure. Suggesting that students activate their body to be engaged into the task, and thus, learning. This happens in both simulators (VRS and FSTD), and we find no significant difference between them, indicating that VRS provides an engaging experience as the FSTD. Surprisingly, amongst novice students (with less than 75 flight hours) there was a higher percentage of students with low engagement.

Conversely, we observe that students tend to perceive the FSTD slightly more demanding than the VRS. Also, students with more flight hours consider their performance on the VRS higher than the one in the FSTD.

Gert Van Quekelberghe presently holds the position of Head of Cabin and Joint Training at Brussels Airlines. With a career spanning more than 20 years, he has been an active cabin crew member, accumulating vast experience across a range of aircraft, covering both short-haul and long-haul operations. Currently, Gert continues his active role as a senior purser and instructor on Brussels Airlines’ A32F and A330 aircraft.

Gert boasts a background in healthcare, having pursued studies in Ghent and Prague. In his aviation journey, he initially served as a first-aid instructor and then expanded his responsibilities to include safety instruction.

Starting in 2019, when he assumed the role of Cabin Crew Training Manager, Gert embarked on several innovative projects aimed as modernizing and digitalizing the cabin crew training programs at Brussels Airlines. One noteworthy endeavour involved introducing a comprehensive cabin crew competency framework, which has been effectively integrated into the training and evaluation processes for cabin crew members during their operational roles. Additionally, Gert is actively engaged in collaborative projects with Lufthansa Group Aviation Training.

At present, Gert is overseeing the implementation of competency-based training and assessment, including new digital training methodologies, for both the initial and recurrent training programs offered by Brussels Airlines.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 4

Overcoming the Challenges in Embracing Digital Technologies

Even though technological breakthrough displays a range of digital tools to ease learning, reluctance to apply them in cabin crew training still persists. Worldwide studies demonstrate the benefits of digital solutions such as VR, AR and others in improving training effectiveness while simultaneously increasing ROI. Hence, what are the barriers causing such resistance to change? Is it the regulation that is not changing fast enough? Nethertheless, does the regulation forbid the use of such effective means at all? On the other hand, could it be our belief that traditional training methods are more effective? Are we unsure about how to initiate such a project?

To overcome such challenges, it is important to adopt a holistic view to the entire training system by firstly reflecting on the purpose of training as well as our associated responsibilities. Secondly, we need to appreciate the importance of a human-centric training approach and co-relate it to the concept of CBTA while identifying the gaps in traditional training versus the promising opportunities in digital technologies.

Let us jointly discuss and share our expertise on the desired targeted outcomes of cabin crew training, questin current training approaches and identify areas where a digital interactive environment would make a difference.

This workshop will consist of scenario-based analysis and facilitated discussions to encourage participants to apply critical thinking and creativity to explore the opportunities of digital solutions in enhancing training and crew performance.

Aims & objectives:

• Practice applying a holistic approach with multiple angle perception includig human-centric view, CBTA, compliance, training effectiveness & efficiency, to identify promising digital training methods.
• Identify and discuss training elements which would be best delivered via digital tools and realistic simulations.
• Justify the reasoning behind course of action and the benefits of digital training solutions.
• Practice specifying digital course contents which support CBTA principle.

Michael has an extensive background as a pilot, instructor, examiner, and manager working in many sectors of the aviation industry. His career began in the Royal Air Force, followed by time as an airline pilot as commander on the Boeing 757/767. He worked for the UK CAA in operations and training oversight. He held management roles with Boeing (Alteon) and then Airbus in Toulouse. In his Airbus role of Senior Director Training Development Michael formed the idea which became the Evidence-based Training Project, leading the International IATA/ICAO/IFALPA EBT Working Group form 2007 until 2013, leading to the publication of ICAO Doc 9995. Michael worked in the development of FSTD’s, and his team have guided many airlines in the implementation of EBT and competency-based training programs.

Pilot Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 3

10 Years On – Defining Success in Evidence-based Training

In 2013 ICAO defined EBT as a concept that would provide substantial benefits for pilots and airlines if diligently undertaken. The approach would move away from traditional compliance-based training towards a more effective and competecy and data-driven method. The expectation was that EBT would enhance pilot training by analyzing data to identify vulnerabilities, and tailoring training to address specific airline issues. It was several years before airlines and authorities were able to begin work on the first EBT programs. Since 2015 uptake of EBT has been considerable and it is on the way to become “the way” of conducting recurrent training in many regions of the world. But what did the early adopters expect and what did they get? What expectations were defined for the program by airlines championing the cause? The presentation will identify how EBT has evolved as a concept with the development of best practice Mixed or full implementation is usually based on the ICAO generation specific probram, but how do we adapt training to focus on airline issues? How do we look at data? And how do we process it to understand how to develop effective learning related to vulnerabilities we see in operations, and the pilot competencies? The presentation will highlight several case studies to examine implementation issues, roadblocks, early results and how some programs have matured to deliver quantifiable success for individuals and airlines. Success is ultimately measured in safety performance and several examples will be presented. Competency and Evidence-based approaches need thought and attention to all aspects of the learning experience, to maximise relevance and realism, support the experience with capable instructors, and understand how to measure results and interpret to mature and grow the concept.

Retired Captain, TRI, SFE A330/A340. Senior Advisor, CEFA Aviation. 21,000 flight hours

After the Swiss Air Force Academy in 1980, Pierre got his pilot wings and for 30 years flew combat jets and high-performance trainers in the Swiss Air Force until his 50th birthday, in parallel to his civil job. In 1983, Pierre started at the Swiss Aviation School and got hired thereafter by Swissair (now Swiss International Airlines), where he is still Captain on the A330/A340.

Pierre likes to share his experience and know-how since the very beginnings: in 1991 he became a copilot instructor, first on the A310, then as part of the core team responsible for the introduction of the A320 for Swissair. He is also a co-designer & trainer of the four Modules Crew Resource Management Course dedicated to the introduction of the A320.

Pierre is also keen on new challenges and chooses to continuously improve his knowledge, being an acceptance pilot for flight simulators, delivery flights, tests after HMV, initial acceptance and phase out flights.

Pierre Wannaz definitely wears several hats as he also collaborated with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) as an external auditor and examiner for MétéoSuisse Swiss weather forecasters and meteorological advisers, but also teaches about the risks of automation of the aircraft. He is a reckoned legal expert as well in incident and accident investigations, amongst others, he was named aeronautical expert for the accident of Air France 447 (Rio-Paris). He is also the co-writer of “Escadrille 2”, a book about squadron 2. During his leisure time, Pierre is an amateur photographer. He likes to go on treks and discover new countries and new cultures, besides his “on-duty” trips!

Pilot Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 6

Using Modern Technology for EBT in Line Operations Training

Neil Waterman has worked in the flight simulation and training industry for 34 years specializing in sound and communications systems. He joined Singer Link-Miles in the UK in 1989 before heading over to the USA in 1999 to join Advanced Simulation Technology inc. (ASTi). Today, Neil is the Commercial Aviation Director for ASTi and for the past 17 years has championed development of the ASTi SATCE solution SERA. He has previously presented on the practical application of Simulated ATC Environments in Flight Simulators and the delivery of Level D sound in Full Flight Simulators.

Pilot Conference
Day 2 – Thursday 9th November – Session 7

Simulated ATC Environments: Reducing Instructor Workload Through Next-Generation Technologies … Stop Pretending You’re An ATC Controller!

When running a Continuing Qualification Line Oriented Evaluation (CQLOE) training event in a simulator, the entire ATC workload falls on the Instructor, who already has significant tasking focused on evaluating and scoring the crew. Remembering when to make the ATC calls, ensuring correct phraseology is used and monitoring the crew responses as correct, all contribute as a distraction to the main function of the Instructor.

Creating a CQLOE lesson plan for an airline in itself is a significant effort, taking many months. A major portion of this, estimated to be approximately 50% of the entire CQLOE generation effort, is in scripting and refining the ATC calls to the aircraft. Ensuring ATC interactions and phraseology are correct, timed appropriately and, importantly, not overwhelming the instructor, is a challenge, even for the most experienced curriculum development team. Additional effort to support CPDLC messaging to the aircraft is also required. Once the event is planned additional effort is required to train the instructors, and much of this is focused on role-playing ATC.

The challenges associated with providing realistic ATC for CQLOE events can be overwhelming: time, cost, resources, scale, efficiency, standardization, accuracy and repeatability. Recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI), automatic speech recognition, hyper realistic text-to-speech, natural language processing, and generative large language models are now being utilized in Simulated ATC Environment (SATCE) systems that entirely eliminate the need for the instructor to role-play ATC. Furthermore, script generation can be mitigated by the use of SATCE. Whereas ATC script generation previously took several months, a SATCE system can generate the transcript of an entire flight in a matter of minutes.

This presentation will briefly review the history of communication technology in flight simulation and focus on the significant advantages and benefits of using SATCE in today’s modern CQLOE training.

With over 20 years experience in easyJet in a variety of roles, Claire provides leadership for cabin crew training teams, supporting over 250 instructors delivering training in over 28 locations throughout Europe. She has experience as airline cabin crew, crew trainer, training standards and learning & development and more recently as a Training Manager, responsible for the line management of all New Entrant Cabin Crew and Instructors.

She works to continually drive training effectiveness and efficiency to better serve the airlines cabin crew, to equip them with the competencies and confidence to excel in their roles.

She has been instrumental in implementing a competency based approach to Instructor training, enhancing how Instructors are trained within easyJet with a focus on developing competencies to safely and effectively deliver industry leading training.

Claire has had extensive experience within Learning & Development, working with easyJet’s Head Office personnel and was responsible for creating and implementing a network wide development programme for cabin crew.

Cabin Crew Conference
Day 1 – Wednesday 8th November – Session 2

Re-imagining Training

If you want a different outcome, you need to do things differently.

Our training strategy is at the core of what we do and enables us to challenge the status quo. It gives us direction, purpose and aligns with what we aiming to achieve as a business and is particularly important when working in an organisation that has grown so exponentially.

How did we create a scalable and sustainable positive learning environment that continuously stives to improve training effectiveness for all?

We focused on 3 key areas:

1. Understanding our customers’ needs

We changed the way in which we train our cabin crew with positive results.

Changing from the traditional training and checking method to coach to competency whereby crew use self-analyse we build better knowledge, resilience and confidence within our cabin crew community.

So how have we done this – we put the trainee at the centre of the learning, the instructor is merely the facilitator.

Our crew identify through peer to peer debrief discussions where they can improve with minimal input from the instructor. They own their feedback and voluntarily want to recomplete the exercise again to better themselves.

2. Supporting and Developing our instructor community

It is imperative to have the right people in the right roles at the right time. In the last two years we’ve grown from 44 instructors training in 2 locations to over 250 training at 28 bases. Embedding our instructor competencies and matrix has been paramount to what we have achieved. We also created the Instructor Development Team to support this, with a real focus on training, more than checking.

3. Enabling innovation

Having the right practical tools to do their job is key to successfully embedding CBT. We are looking to do this in several ways:

• Introducing Mixed VR into Fire Training
• A new facility that our team and fellow crew deserve