UKOMA Operations Officers training course

[fractional]

A friend needs some info about this course. Has anyone in this Forum attended one of these courses. Feedback will be much appreciated, i.e. course instructors and study material, its development and application in "the real life" in the office, costs of hotac, food & bevs.
Thanks in advance.:ok:

[no sig]

Fractional

In the first instance I would do a search on this forum for past discussions on the UKOMA Ops courses. I would also recommend your friend speak with his ops manager, particularly if he is a member of UKOMA, he'll almost certainly know when the next courses are, who's instructing (usually member ops managers and supervisors) and where. The course details are usually posted on the UKOMA website.

The UKOMA courses were set up by UKOMA members back in 1988 or thereabouts, and are an excellent 'introduction' into airline ops control. In addition, almost every person who I've spoken with who has attended the course mentions the value in working with other ops officers, I'm sure many lasting friendships have come out of these courses. Where valuable, the courses are relatively short and further study will be required to meet the new JAROPS1 ops officer training requirements.

[The Streets]

I did one back in 96 or 97 I think, when I was a wee loon with only about 6 months on the job training as an Ops Assistant, and it was a hell of a long way from Aberdeen to Bournemouth by train !!!

I have to say it was one of the best week of working I have ever had, some of the lecturers were better than others (Guy from Monarch sticks in my mind as being superb) and I still come across guys I met from the course when I least expect to.

If its still run to the same standard as back in those days then its not to be missed.

[im going in]

Have to agree with the Streets, It is a good week primarily for the socialising. As for the course, if you have been doing Ops/Crewing for a while then it should basically recap everything that you know.

[Dash-7 lover]

Monarch Airlines did mine back in 1990 - great course and excellent intro into aviation......Dick Holder was the Monarch chap that ran it.........good fun and excellent networking potential.

[no sig]

Think you mean Ken Brooker, MON- Dick was with AE or BCAL then as I recall

[phoenix son]

Did mine in 1999, excellent week, learnt lots, drank LOADS, thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. Ken Brooker WAS the MON guy who ran it, along with Ian (Wheeler? Whealdon? something like that?) from EAL. If you're lucky they'll take you for a curry night in Bournemouth ("table for 26 please pal..."), pretty impressive bill at the end of the night as I recall (just...)

[Little Blue]

Did mine at the Holiday Inn, LGW back in 94...
A week of learning and a week of "HEAVY " socialising.
Met some great people....especially interesting was the Strip Club tutorial that a few of us decided to attend one evening !
Think we passed that one with flying colours !
Good course, by the way.
;)

[Dash-7 lover]

No sig........................aaah you could be right there..... forgot about the Air Europe input.

[VIKING9]

Ken carried out my weight & balance induction training back in 1983. Ahhhh BAC1-11 whiz wheels :ugh:

Good all round course and a great teacher. Is he still with Monarch ?

phoenix son you mean Ian Weedon aka "womble"....

[Opssys]

Reference Dick Holder:
BCAL Commercial Planning, MOCON, Mgr Ops Support
AE MOCON.
Now runs his own COnsultancy Company:
Holder Aviation - http://www.holderaviation.co.uk/
A real Gentleman and Aviation Professional

[Vol7]

Juvenile I know but... DICK HOLDER what an unfortunate name
(Although I'm sure he's heard all the jokes before)

[Opssys]

Re the Jokes, yes and some of them were very 'inventive' to say the least.
However, Dick is not his real christian name. Actually it is David.
The story and I cannot vouch this is exactly what happened, is:
On his very first day in an Airline (BUA ?)
His boss who already had a David in the section re-christened him. And within the industry he has been lumbered with Dick ever since.
OPssys!

[phoenix son]

VIKING9,

Yep, that's him, could remember "womble" but wasn't going to post that...Great week though, thoroughly enjoyed it...

[Homer Jay 148]

I did my UKOMA Ops Officers course, in 2002, and i can agree it's good on the social side of things, but it is really designed for those who can't tell the difference between a car and a aircraft, if you have an aviation background then don't waste your time, mine was only military and i found it cr*p, and it's only acknowledged by those who are signed up to it, mainly low cost and charter, and even then it's not essential to you getting a job. But with the right crowd it can be a giggle, especially if there's a south african chick on the course, eh, Andy and Alberville!!!:mad:

[SPFlyer]

Hey up Homer. Glad to see the course was money well spent!!!

Is cr*p a technical term???!!!!

Alberville and a S. African chick? Why wasnt i informed of this?! Could have had hours of fun in the office with that one! :E

Hope you are well me ol' china. Hope you enjoyed the mighty Eagles putting an end the Moan Utd's title hopes. I did!!:ok:

[no sig]

Homer Jay 148

Can't let your comments disparaging the UKOMA course go unchallenged, it has never claimed to be anything other than an introduction to airline operations. Hundreds of ops bods out there have gained from attending the course over the past 17 odd years it has been running, even those with some prior expereince in the business often come back having learned something new.

For those who might not know, the course is run by the good will of the ops managers of UKOMA airlines for UKOMA airlines. The fact that this excludes the likes of BA is their choice, but that has little to do with its value. Many people put a great deal of effort into planning and managing these courses for the benefit of new comers to the industry. Further, it costs the airlines virtually nothing but the efforts of the people running it and a few hotel rooms.

Homer Jay, you are entitled to your opinion of course and may feel you did not benefit from the training, but you should know you're about the only person I've ever heard in the course's history (and I was there at the begining) say what you have.

It's important for the next group of prospective UKOMA course attendees to know that they will certainly benefit (as many of the postings on this thread attest) from the course and to make the best of it, learn what you can and of course- enjoy the company, something that Homer J has got right.

[opsbod]

Homer,

As one of thse involved in the course I am disappointed by your comments. As nosig has stated the course is designed for people with a variety of backgrounds who have normally worked in Ops for 12 months or less.

I am sure that on your feedback sheet at the end of the course you aired these concerns. However, just because you felt under challenged by the course may not mean others did or that future students may not gain benefit from attending.

I would also point out that all of the instructors on the course give their time willingly and gratis. We realise that we cannot train Ops staff to the levels of licenced dispatchers in a week, but we are trying to impart some knowledge and skills on the way, as well as encouraging learning of our trade craft for the future.

[Satu]

Homer

I feel you are being slightly harsh in your post

UKOMA as stated before, is there to provide an introduction into Operations, plus the chance to network and speak with other airlines etc

The people who run the course do so of their own back's and do not deserve such rubbish comments

I felt the course was good value both for money and experience

;)

[Homer Jay 148]

Didn't mean to make you all :{ , We all know we have to be a bit un-hinged to do the job we do :ok: