Head of training living away from base

[Sam_MHN]

Dear fellow aviators,

I would like to ask you if it is possible and well seen by our EASA Caa's to be a head of training while living away from the school (1.5 hours of flight).

After lots of years of hardship, then having the chance to work in Air taxi and flight instruction I have recently landed a corporate aviation job with which I am comfortable and happy.

However to my surprise the Aero club where I grew up just called me asking if I would be happy to become HT and do some part-time/ocasional work for them as well as supervising another FI.

I really would like to say yes but I would appreciate your opinion on the matter, especially from those who are better informed in terms of regulations...

Thanks in advance, fly safe.

Samuel

[Whopity]

You refer to it as an Aero Club; what type of training does it provide? Is it an ATO or an RF? Will it be a DTO under Part DTO?
The requirements for a HT in Part ORA are:

AMC1 ORA.ATO.110(b) Personnel requirements
HEAD OF TRAINING
The nominated head of training (HT) should have the overall responsibility to ensure that the training is in compliance with the appropriate requirements. In an ATO providing training courses for different aircraft categories, the HT shall be assisted by one or more nominated deputy HT(s)for certain flight training courses

There are quite a number of ATOs operating with a remote HT.

[Sam_MHN]

Dear Whopity and TangoAlphad, I am very grateful for your feedback.

Originally Posted by Whopity

You refer to it as an Aero Club; what type of training does it provide? Is it an ATO or an RF? Will it be a DTO under Part DTO?
The requirements for a HT in Part ORA are:
There are quite a number of ATOs operating with a remote HT.

It is a RF to be transitioned to ATO asap. It provides training for PPL-SEP and LAPL.

Originally Posted by TangoAlphad

As in supervising a restricted FI to carry out flight training or was that meant as a more general term?

Remotely providing assistance and guidance and occasionally attending instructional flights, mostly first-solo checks that currently can't be in charge of the restricted instructor.

Thanks again everyone, any further feedback would be really appreciated.

Regards.

Samuel

[Sam_MHN]

Just extending the topic...

I see that probably acting as a remote HT is not an issue, but I missed the point that someone must be in charge of instructor supervision (the instructor that I have been offered is restricted).

This instructor supervision is another ambiguous subject that anyone knows what it means, but unless it is different for a small non-complex Ato I think you need to be there to make it work.

Any input is welcome.

Regards.

[jez d]

Sam,

If the school is not interested in providing MEP or Competency-based IR training (for which you would be required to become an ATO), then it makes more sense for your school to transition to a DTO, in my opinion. It would save the school money and lessen the bureaucratic burden.

EASA's AMC for DTOs is due to be published at the end of March, I understand.

[Sam_MHN]

Originally Posted by jez d

Sam,

If the school is not interested in providing MEP or Competency-based IR training (for which you would be required to become an ATO), then it makes more sense for your school to transition to a DTO, in my opinion. It would save the school money and lessen the bureaucratic burden.

EASA's AMC for DTOs is due to be published at the end of March, I understand.

Thanks jez,

Yes, I have been looking at the DTO stuff, just waiting for more official info to be published.

It is probably the only way to go for small certified aviation schools and clubs.

Rgds.

[Whopity]

It is a RF to be transitioned to ATO asap. It provides training for PPL-SEP and LAPL.

As I suspected, I agree there is little point going for an ATO if you don't need it. There is a useful presentation given by an EASA representitive here:
There was an EASA meeting to finalise Part DTO last Thursday so allowing for it to sit in the EU Parliament for 6 months it should be EU Law by September.

[Sam_MHN]

Thanks both, I appreciate your help.

Rgds.

[Hats.On.To.Fly]

If supervising a restricted FI, the supervisor HAS to be on site, that could be in another building or inside the flying club/school but they cannot be an hour away and 'supervising'.

[MrAverage]

Whopity!

No mention of IMC/IR(R) in that link?

[BEagle]

IMCR / IR(R) are NATIONAL ratings and will remain entirely unaffected by DTO requirements...

This was made abundantly clear at the CAA roadshows last year and they promised to make the point when their document introducing DTO requirements is released.

However, although the EASA Rule Making Task Force for the Basic IR recommended that BIR training could be conducted at a DTO - and wrote that into the draft NPA - when EASA released the NPA they had reversed this agreed position, stating that BIR training would not be within the scope of DTOs. Having seen the responses to the NPA, I can assure you that there is overwhelming support for the Task Force's position and considerable opposition to the EASA volte face.

Sam_MHN, if you're interested in renting a little flat in Villacarlos (or Es Castell if you like...), send me a PM. It's only 4km from San Luis airport.

[Sam_MHN]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Beagle, will bear that in mind!

Fly safe.

[BillieBob]

If supervising a restricted FI, the supervisor HAS to be on site

Just where in the regulations does it say that? AFAIK there is no definition of or guidance on what represents 'supervision'

[TheOddOne]

AFAIK there is no definition of or guidance on what represents 'supervision'

Sadly that seems to be the case. I've been 'supervised' from the end of a phone line 'call me if you've got a problem'. Personally, now I'm supervising, I think it OUGHT to mean being on-site, maybe having a sneaky over-hear of brief/de-briefings. If they're away on a navex, I think it's OK to be in the circuit but never far away from a phone. There's a fine line between keeping a fatherly eye on things and interfering but you should always 'be there' for them.

TOO

[Duchess_Driver]

If supervising a restricted FI, the supervisor HAS to be on site, that could be in another building or inside the flying club/school but they cannot be an hour away and 'supervising'.

Like Billiebob, I’d be very interested in the EASA regulation that stipulates that...local club/school rule perhaps, but I’ve never seen it in the official books.

Like you TOO, have seen both ends of the spectrum from not being allowed to breathe without permission with “your friend and mine” to FI(R)a hardly seeing their supervisor. Like to think people are always contactable and available to be on site at relatively short notice should there be an issue but understand that a supervisor may be on a long cross country with their student... sensible and legal not always the same thing.

[Whopity]

Whilst there is nothing specific in the regulation, supervision implies some level of responsibility and oversight. From the Cambridge English dictionary:

Supervision: the act of watching a person or activity and making certain that everything is done correctly, safely, etc.

You would need to be very long sighted and have good hearing to fulfill this role remotely.

[Bizdottest]

A definition of 'Supervision' was repeatedly dodged throughout the introduction of EASA and earlier. There have been many instances of the supervisor not being in radio or even telephone contact with the training aerodrome and also reports of not being in the same country. The answer lies in your RF/ATO/DTO orders.