This issue focuses on organisations dealing with the pilots who are inexperienced and have limited training.
What can CASR Part 133 Operators do?
Operators should make sure their operations are safer by considering how they support crew with limited experience.
While training and checking requirements set out the minimum regulatory requirements, you should consider other options when supporting junior crew.
Consider adopting a conversation approach about safety of operations if you have low to average experience among crew. Operators said the perceived lack of airmanship amongst new pilots or new captains was an area of focus. High attrition of pilots in this sector was also an issue.
Other ways you can support inexperienced crew could include:
- Consider starting a mentoring program for junior pilots who receiving mentoring by more experienced pilots within the organisation. A mentoring program extends beyond traditional training and checking. Mentoring allows more opportunities for junior pilots to gain a better understanding of corporate knowledge from experienced pilots.
- Safety promotion. Whether through mentoring or other safety briefings, you should ensure there is a focus on information to improve safety and prevent accidents and incidents. The messages should not only identify what has gone wrong but how to prevent future occurrences.
- Standardising operations as much as possible. This includes incorporating airline style standard operating procedures (SOPs) into operations to reduce variation and crew workload. This can also allow for a greater focus on the safe operation of the aircraft.
- You should also promote a positive safety culture to support crew in raising concerns. This empowers crew to make appropriate risk-based decisions knowing they have your support.
What is CASA doing or has already delivered?
In addition to licencing experience and competency requirements details in CASR Part 61 and associated material, we have introduced Part 119 of CASR.
Part 119 details requirements for the certification and management for air transport operators. It also includes the requirements for a scalable training and checking system. This Part ensures all operational safety critical personnel are at an acceptable level of competency before starting safety critical tasks.
We have published new training and checking and recency requirements in Part 119 and 133 of CASR. This ensures operational safety-critical personnel are proficient in the required competencies to support air operations.
Guidance material is available to operators to help meet requirements and support establishing an effective training and checking system. Material includes