Tyrolean Airways, Austria
PHASE I (PICUS)
Phase I of the program, which is the PICUS phase, begins with First Officers receiving and starting to fill out the Folder once 2300 hours is attained. The first 150 hours will be logged as PICUS (Pilot in Command under Supervision) and shall be entered into the Folder only when flying with Instructors and Experienced Commanders, acc to OM Part A (FOM). The Instructors and Experienced Commanders will allow the Candidates to conduct routine duties that are normally performed by the PIC. Examples of these may be; crew briefings, fuel uplift decisions and PIC related paperwork, such as the filling out of the TAL except for the PIC’s signature. There will be no documented material or de-briefings aside from the logging of the PICUS time in the Folder by the Candidate as well as having it well documented in each person’s logbooks. Once each candidate has logged the 150 hours PICUS time, he/she shall immediately send the folder back to the Training Department.
PHASE II (Pre-Upgrading Evaluation)
If Commander posts are available, the Training Department will return the folder to the Candidate to start Phase II of the program, which is the Pre-Upgrading Evaluation phase. Phase II is designed to determine if suitable Candidates meet specific decision based and operational tasks in addition to their normal flying skills.
A period of 25 legs flying with different Instructors and Specially Nominated Commanders will give both sides a glance of what to expect in a possible upgrading / Command Course.
- The Candidates will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness without being asked too deeply into Commander specific duties.
- The Candidates will have to show their precise application of SOPs and OM Part A (FOM) knowledge, although Instructors/Specially Nominated Commanders will let them know if there are any procedures, callouts... that need to be reviewed and improved upon.
This will be done, in clear written form, on the respective pages of the Training Progress File.
If the 25 legs are judged in a positive manner, along with the final decision of the respective Fleet Chief, the Candidate will be offered a Command Course when the need arises.
However, the Fleet Chief’s authorization only has a validity period of 6 months. All decisions for upgrading exceeding the validity period indicated at the end of the folder or failure of a Recurrent Proficiency Check or Line Check during this period, requires the re-authorization of the respective Fleet Chief.
If the respective Fleet Chief is not satisfied with the Candidate’s overall performance, he may decide to return the Pre-Upgrading Evaluation Folder to the Candidate for an additional pre-determined number of sector legs.
However, if at the end of the entire evaluation period, the folder still reflects below standard performance, for whatever reason, the Candidate may be given an individual time period to re-qualify for another Pre-Upgrading Evaluation assessment only after consultation with the Manager Flight Crew Training and the Manger Flight Operations.
Note:
Once these hurdles are taken pilots upgrading on the same type get a 4-session upgrading SIM course while those who need a conversion training (typerating) get two extra sessions on top of the type rating.
In both cases the last session is a checkride.
Next 100 hours of supervision on the aircraft are flown with an instructor, topped by a line check. After the line check the checker retreats from the jumpseat to the cabin.
I'm not that firm on the classroom lessons given but do remember a one or two-day CRM refresher and some FOM refresher, all together less than a week.
Upgradings are by seniority, of course. If different types are available the company may assign as they find practical, as long as the most senior pilots who apply get upgraded.
I do second the notion that some "refresher" on the legal aspects of moving left would be covered.