In the Aerospace Industry were skilled workforce is the need of the hour and the shortage of workforce is putting the existing industry under tremendous pressure, there is a burning need for state-of-art training institutes and skilled trainers
The Director of Etihad Airways Training, Paolo La cava speaks about his experience in pilot-training, the constant need of updating the training programs and the challenges faced in pilot training in the fast-paced world, our Assistant Editor, Swati.k finds more…
Q- EAT offers MPL (Multi-Crew Pilot Licence Programme with twin jet training) what are its advantages over normal training?
A- Simply put, we are targeting competencies instead of tasks for modern airline pilots so we develop a course that ensures our training programme trains pilots from day one to become a modern airline crew member. It can also be tailored to the individual needs of the airline and the type of aircraft they operate. It is more relevant, more effective and efficient for commercial airlines.
Q- In today’s world of constantly changing technology, how frequent is the need for updating the training program?
A- Constantly! Safety is our number one priority and in order to achieve this, we need to ensure we keep ourselves up-to-date with manufacturing changes and system updates. Furthermore, today’s generation of students have changed the way they learn and we need to adapt and focus on new training techniques required for the younger student.
Q- Pilot shortage & skilled MRO workforce is a global problem. What according to you should be done to tackle this problem, as the major chunk of responsibility lies with training institutes?
A- Training organisations have the responsibility to provide fit for purpose and cost-effective training solutions that are tailored to the training needs of the modern generation. The pilot shortage was predictable and the industry didn’t react quickly enough. To turn this around, we should invest in instructor development, qualifications and retention in order to train the next generation of pilots.
Q- With the Aviation market on a steady rise and with EAT opening its doors to third party training, where do you see EAT about 5 years from now?
A- Etihad Aviation Training’s goal is to be a globally recognised, fully comprehensive training organisation that supports Etihad Airways’ needs. In addition, we strive to be a training aviation professional as part of being a key player in the Middle East to solve the global pilot shortage.
Q- Can you explain very briefly some of the major challenges faced in Pilot training?
A- We are continuously working to move from task based training to competency based training. Not so much a challenge rather than a reality, but we also have to constantly upgrade our training methods in order to meet industry standards and the younger generation’s needs.
