7192 D3

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FG
Your last posting and my last must have crossed as this is the first I've seen of it, I wasn't avoiding your comments. What I have said, is that the CAA have specified Doc 7192 as the training standard for flight operations officers. OK so far? That is the standard for UK operators. The syllabus is the syllabus, it defines the subject matter and the level of understanding required by the student. If we deviate from this course then we move away from the reference standard. In the begining UKOMA agreed that the only way to approach this was to stick to the 7192 requirements.

I have also said that the first modules may have been more than is needed by 7192, we acknowledged that a long time ago. Next set of models will be better aligned with 7192 requirement, first course and we're working to get it fine tuned.

You are making the judgement that you don't need all of this knowledge, subjectively. Standards are set to remove that. I didn't write Doc 7192, disagree with it if you like. But, as with a flight crew licence they don't get a choice, because it's a standard. In due course ICAO may adjust the requirement, but for the time being this edition we have to work to.

The ICAO doc requires you to understand the operation of almost all of the aircraft systems, if you haven't got a copy email me with your address and I'll send you a copy and you can judge the syllabus for yourself. What you are saying though is that you don't need to know as much as a pilot, in some areas that may be true, but on the other hand you are saying

"What aircrew need from me is an understanding of the aircraft performance, the ATC system, Navigation, Weight(mass) and balance, effects of degraded aircraft performance (As written in the MEL/DDG) and how to apply this degredation"

So pray tell me, what level of understanding do you need at say DHL Air versus easyJet? is it the same or is it more? If you happen to work for say, Heavylift (as they once were) and you needed to derive your performance from the flight manual graphs of an older aircraft, how much depth do you need to go into. Does the MEL teach you to go to the 'reference line first'? No it doesn't. Why is it that aircrew licencing applies a 'one size fits all philosophy'? Answer that and you can find the answer to why ICAO define a similar standard for Ops training.

My point FG is that what you think you need and what others need may be two different things. So, we have ICAO guiding us to a general standard of knowledge and the object of the course if to give you that knowledge.

I do not for one minute accept that this course is overkill for the Ops bod who wishes to have an in depth understanding of aircraft systems and airline operations, or that it is 'slap dash' as you call it. Several of the modules have not required any editing at all. I will accept that in the aircraft system modules in this first pass we may have included more than is required by 7192, many would consider that a benefit. Yes, the college had some pagination difficulties as I mentioned before and they re-issued the met section as a result. I said before, you must contact the College with your comments if you have found problems. I have not been made aware of 'errors too numerous to mention' by any of the 20 odd easyJet bods on the course, a few yes, but not too many to mention.

Listen guys, I'm not going to ram this course down your throats. If you don't want to do the course then don't. All I can try and do here is explain its origins, give you my personal view and try and foster a new standard of training which, our Authority recommends, and which I believe to be what our industry needs.

But, if you take the time to study the 7192 course, you will see that the objective is to give the candidate a level of technical competence to enable him/her to do his or her job. I have at least three ops bods in easyjet who did their ATPL studies in about 9 month or so each. Why because they want to fly and be pilots. I say, if you want a career in airline flight ops then do the studies to the 7192 syllabus. Of course you won't use it all, but then again do you use all of the Maths you studied at school? probably not. Same, same the more you know about aircraft, the systems and flight operation the better you'll understand the industry and I would argue, the better ops officer you'll be.