FLIGHT OPERATIONS TRAINING Courses

The major portion of Saudia’s training is conducted by Flight Operations Training.  Personnel being considered for flight crew positions and those presently in these positions must satisfy the standards of Saudia and the Presidency of Civil Aviation.  This is done by successfully completing training.  Personnel being considered for flight crew positions and those presently in these positions must satisfy the standards of Saudia and the Presidency of Civil Aviation.  This is done by successfully completing training programs tailored to their level of experience.

Flight Operations Training is responsible for training programs for aircraft systems, performance, procedures, safety, simulators and actual aircraft.  Saudia operates a large fleet of different aircraft, and each type of aircraft requires its own series of training programs complete with instructors, lectures, audio-visual presentations, printed materials, and specialized training aids.

The operating characteristics and procedures of various aircraft systems such as fuel, hydraulics, electrical, pressurization, and aviaonics are taught by instructors who are grouped into sections which specialize in a particular type of aircraft.

SYSTEMS TRAINING

The crew must learn to operate all aircraft systems.  Instruction is given for normal, abnormal, and emergency operating conditions.

PERFORMANCE TRAINING

The flight crew must learn how to make the aircraft operate as designed, in all weather situations and within the limits and regulations required by the various air traffic control agencies.

SAFETY TRAINING

Safety training prepares flight crews for emergency situations by teaching first aid and the location and operation of aircraft emergency equipment.  In addition to films and classroom lectures, crews actually perform emergency drills which ensure a complete understanding of the procedures.

SIMULATOR TRAINING

In the simulator, the trainee must now fly the aircraft in addition to operating the many systems.  He must coordinate his activities with the other flight deck crewmembers until the entire crew performs as a well trained team.

FLIGHT TRAINING

The aircraft is the ultimate trainer.  It is here that the trainee must sharpen his skills and knowledge and demonstrate his ability to his flight instructor.  Only after attaining the required standards can the trainee be released to fly the line.

FLIGHT CREW TRAINING

Flight crew training programs for each type of aircraft are organized into the following categories for both the flight engineer and the pilot, initial. Differences, recurrent, transition, check airman, flight instructor and crew resource management training.  By further organizing each aircraft program into various levels, the trainee receives a program tailored to his immediate requirements and based upon his level of experience.

Establishing and maintaining the necessary knowledge and proficiency levels of a flight crewmember, ensures compliance with the standards established within the Kingdom and the international airline governing agencies.

INITIAL TRAINING

Flight crews and dispatch personnel who have been newly hired, recruited from within the company, or are being promoted, require initial training.

TRANSITION TRAINING

As flight crew members and dispatchers gain experience, they become eligible to move to other aircraft.  These trainees must learn how to serve in their former capacity on the new equipment type.  As in initial training, these courses ensure that the highest level of professional skill is attained.

RECURRENT TRAINING

Flight crewmembers and dispatchers are required to participate in recurrent training programs each calendar year.  Recurrent training utilizes ground training courses, flight simulator proficiency training and flight proficiency checks.  The information presented includes current and revised procedures, systems reviews, and related articles.  This ensures that each crewmember or dispatcher is adequately trained and up to date with respect to the type of airplane and position involved.

DIFFERENCES TRAINING

Flight crewmembers and dispatchers who are being assigned to a different variant of an aircraft within Saudia, may have to attend differences training.  The purpose of this training is to familiarize these personnel with the differences that may exist in the same type of aircraft.  These differences that may exist in the same type of aircraft.  These differences may be design, location and operation of equipment, safety considerations or operating procedures.

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TRAINING

The simulator and flight portions of training require instructors, check airmen and evaluators who them selves are highly skilled in their profession.  Crewmembers selected for pilot check airmen, flight instructor and engineer instructor positions must successfully complete a very specialized training course.

 CREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRAINING

Statistics collected over the last 30 years, by various agencies confirm that the human element was a major cause in approximately 70% of airline aircraft accidents/incidents.

The aviation industry was shocked to realize that well-trained and technically proficient crews could crash an airworthy aircraft because of failures of human interaction. This realization led to the development of a program collectively known as Crew Resource Management or CRM.  This program is now mandated by the FAA/PCA as per FAR 121.404 and FAR 121.427.

Consequently a newly established department under the name of Crew Skills Development Training was established during 1994. It started working under the guidance of General Manager  -  Flight Operations Training.  It is our obligation to make every effort to train our flight deck and cabin crews to understand, control and manage human error.  This formula holds the key to improving flight safety.

 What is CRM?

Crew Resource Management involves how the non-technical aspects of a flight affect the technical outcomes. Its purpose is to focus on the human element in aviation as a means of reducing aviation aircraft accidents. The role of Crew Skills Development Instructors is shifting from the traditional detecting errors in crewmembers to evaluating how errors can be managed and reinforcing effective error management strategies.

 Office schedule

Crew Skills Development office will be attended from 07:30 to 15:30 Jeddah Local Time, Saturday through Wednesday.  A staff meeting will be held every week to discuss the training schedule, assignments, achievements and any other matters of concern.

 AIDS TO TRAINING

The Link Trainer, developed during the Second World War, could only train one pilot at a time.  The instructor’s panel was located outside the unit.  From his panel, the instructor could control the instruments used by the trainee to fly the trainer.  Only rudimentary problems involving navigation and aircraft handling could be presented.  Gradual improvements were made over the years, but it was not until recently that the tremendous achievements in the field of computer science have allowed the art of simulation to attain its present level of  near-total realism.

With the advent of the computer, the Link Trainer gave way to the flight simulator.  Now a complete cockpit crew could be trained at the same time.  The flight simulator not only looks like the cockpit of the specific airplane, but it simulates the movements, sights, and sounds associated with actual flight.  When flying, the pilot sees a display of the selected airport and the surrounding area in addition to highly realistic runway visual presentations.  The instructor, operating the panel inside the simulator, can observe student reactions while presenting sophisticated problems involving navigation, aircraft system malfunctions, weather, and a myriad of others involving all phases of flight.

FLIGHT SIMULATORS

The somewhat crude and ungainly look of a flight simulator from the outside can be deceiving to the newcomer.  But once inside, with the influence of the many switches, levers, lights and gauges, the audio-visual effects, and the simulated motion , the trainee soon responds just as he would in actual flight.

Instructor, computer, and machine present the trainee with realistic flight situations in an atmosphere, which acts, sounds, and feels like the real thing.  This allows savings in fuel, tires, aircraft components and provides better utilization of aircraft for revenue flights.

SIMULATOR COMPUTERS

Instructions for the sights, sounds, and movements of the simulators are programmed into their computer memories.  Instructor and trainee inputs to the controls in the cockpit cause the computer to respond by sending signals to the simulator motion system, cockpit controls, instrumentation, and the visual system.

COCKPIT PROCEDURE TRAINER

The cockpit procedure trainer (CPT) is a duplicate of a specific aircraft cockpit and is computer operated.  Unlike the flight simulator, the CPT does not have motion or a visual display.  The CPT functions as an aircraft systems and procedures trainer.  For the cadet first officer, his classroom work becomes reality among the gauges, switches and lights of the CPT.  For the experienced flight crewmember, the CPT presents the opportunity to review normal and emergency procedures.

CABIN EVACUATION TRAINER

The cabin evacuation trainer provides that part of emergency evacuation training that involves cabin preparation, passenger briefing, and crew coordination during a simulated crash landing or ditching.  Evacuation training includes a live drill of emergency procedures using sound, lighting effects, smoke, and evacuation slides.

PASSENGER DOOR TRAINER

The purpose of the passenger door trainer is to train crews in the normal and emergency operation of the aircraft doors.  In the event of an emergency situation where visibility inside the airplane is restricted due to darkness or smoke, the aircrew must be able to locate and operate the door controls.

CLASSROOMS

Each classroom includes chalkboards, special overhead lighting, projection screens, a student responder at each desk position, and an instructor’s podium with audio visual, lighting, and responder controls.  The classrooms also incorporate provisions for 35 mm slide programs, 16mm sound films, and video tape programs.  Lighted trainer boards are available to teach the operation and limitations of the more complicated aircraft systems.

TRAINING EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT

As time goes by Saudia acquires new aircraft types.  With a changing fleet, the training concepts and equipment must be updated to take advantage of more modern technology.

An example of this development is the B-747 training equipment system.  Training personnel reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of the currently used trainers.  A comparison was made between present equipment, the latest technology

An example of this development is the B-747 training equipment system.  Training personnel reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of the currently used trainers.  A comparison was made between present equipment, the latest technology and future training requirements.  Through these studies, Flight Operations developed a new concept.

For the first time in civil aviation, a training system was conceived and designed to include common hardware and software in the classroom trainers, the cockpit procedures trainer and the flight simulator.  This system commonality offers many training and maintenance advantages.

One unique feature is the dynamic aircraft systems schematics which are graphically produced by computer and displayed on video monitors and classroom screens.  These schematics respond to the manipulation of the aircraft controls and reinforce the trainees system knowledge.

Another enhancement was the open concept cockpit procedures trainer.  This improvement creates a trainer with greater flexibility.

THE MAKING OF A PROFESSIONAL PILOT

1.       Our candidate is interviewed to determine his professional potential, if accepted, he will become a cadet in a very demanding program.

2.       His aviation career beings with the Flight Training Academy.  He will study physics, mathematics, general aviation subjects and become fluent in English.  Following this, his studies become more specialized and will include hands on training using a light aircraft training panel.

3.       With the first portion of his ground training completed and with the written FAA tests for his licenses successfully completed, the cadet begins his first phase of actual flight training.  With an instructor to guide him he will complete training for his private pilot license and commercial license with multi-engine and instrument ratings.

4.       With about 300 hours of flight time, the cadet returns to the classroom to continue his training.  About two years after entering the Academy, he is ready to begin training as a first officer on the B-737 at the Flight Training Center.

5.       Classroom lectures on aircraft systems, performance, procedures and safety are followed by hands on training in the cockpit procedures trainer.  During each phase of training the cadet is observed and tested to ensure he meets the exacting standards of Saudia

6.       Once his training program is successfully completed, he begins his career as a B-737 first officer in line operations.  Throughout the remainder of his time as a B-737 first officer, he can look forward to annual and semi-annual evaluations, checkrides and recurrent training.  Then, once he accumulates 1000 hours of B-737 time, he is eligible for promotion to the A-300.  If accepted for a position in the A-300 first officer training program, the entire process is repeated in fact, each time he is eligible for promotion to the A-300.  If accepted for a position in the A-300 first officer training program, the entire process is repeated.  In fact, each time he moves from one aircraft to another for the rest of his career, the training requirements will be the same.

7.       After accumulating 4000 hours of flying time, and after flying several of Saudia’s aircraft as a first officer, he can be promoted to captain on the B-737.  The promotion path of a captain is the same as that of a first officer.  This means that after approximately 15 years our cadet has become a B-747 captain.

8.       Now, as he flies the B-747 around the world, he has reached the top of the line.  Although he will not attend training on another aircraft type he will continue to be trained and checked every six months on B-747 for as long as he is an active pilot.  The training and checking routine stops only when he stops flying.

 TRAINING SUPPORT

To conceive a training program is one thing but to produce and support it is another.  Both operational and instructional material must be made available to inructors and flight crewmembers in a timely manner.  The Publications Department distributes information which may vary in complexity from a simple information bulletin to a complete revision of a Flight Handbook or Planning and Performance Manual for one of Saudia’s wide range of aircraft.

 The technicians and specialists of the Flight Simulator Maintenance and Engineering Sections provide the technical expertise required to keep the training equipment to strict standards required for FAA certification.  The high standard of maintenance results in equipment reliability that meets and exceeds industry standards.