All,
Over a decade ago I was invloved with EUFALDA/IFALDA initiatives to have FOO/FD standards in training & conduct accepted by European authorities.
This came about from a perceived requirement to have US and EU collegues perform similar duties when "handing over" each other's aircraft at 30W when the first US-EU airline partnership was taking form.
ADF was involved as well through the US counterpart, and later on the focus moved towards a professional OCC/SOC.
I have since migrated to different pastures.
It pleases me a great deal to read about recent FOO/FD standards developments in the EU/EASA arena, and where these developments are possibly leading: mature job recognition and job/ethics protection through standards & licensing.
Individual airlines have individual needs depending on company structure and company policies. Basic foundation training can be enhanced by company training to cover the various needs of companies, e.g. simple standard flightplan production and filing to long-range joint-authority flight dispatch and flight following.
History has shown that training NOT required by law and commercial aviation generally do not mix, i.e. does not happen.
Ideally, basic FOO/FD training should be undertaken by a recognised independent training facility, passing of whose exam(s) will entitle a student to a "frozen" FOO/FD ticket, to be "un-frozen" on completion of training and experience, a practice common to our industry.
Additional modules can be added as "ratings" required by operators depending on the terms of their AOC's.
Let me know how I can help.
Rgds, Max.