Source: ALTA
- Through its newly created Training Committee, ALTA seeks to support its members and the industry in attracting, training, retaining, and promoting aeronautical talent in the region
ALTA debuts a new working group. The Training Committee’s mission is to provide a forum to share experiences and know-how and identify and generate solutions to the most urgent challenges in pilot training and competencies required for crews in a safe, efficient, and effective manner in the region.
The group, initially composed of representatives from Copa Airlines, Aeromexico, Fly Montserrat, TAR, Voepass, Jetsmart, LATAM, GOL, RIMA, Azul, Sansa, GlobalX Air, Turkish Airlines, Avianca, Tropic Air, Sky Airline, Flybondi, Wayman Aviation Academy, ProSIM, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Ultra Air and XFlight Aviation Academy, has held two virtual working meetings, where the work agenda has been defined, which includes projects related to the standardization of regulations and guidelines for pilot training and simulation equipment, the implementation of evidence-based and competency-based training programs, crew wellbeing, and mental health, to name a few.
At the first virtual meeting, Jorge Reyes, Director of Training at Copa Airlines, was elected as Chairman of the Committee, and Esteban Kertz, Director of Operations at Flybondi, as Vice-chairman.
Jorge Reyes, director of training at Copa Airlines, comments, “It is a privilege for Copa Airlines to participate in this committee. To be able to share our experience in training issues to strengthen processes, not only at the operator level but also with regulators and other organizations that significantly expand the understanding and harmonization of what is contained in the regulatory framework and thus operate competitively and efficiently, as well as create synergies and exchange information for the benefit of strengthening the culture of evidence-based training and promote an operational environment with the highest standard of efficiency and safety.”
José Ricardo Botelho, ALTA’s Executive Director & CEO, emphasizes that the aeronautical personnel is made up of highly specialized professionals who need constant updating to keep up with such an innovative and fast-moving industry as aviation. “At ALTA, part of our mission is to develop projects that contribute to the evolution of a more efficient, safe, and sustainable industry, and all this starts with people; people are the ones who make it possible for an aircraft to take off and reach its destination, and everything in between in the extensive chain of services that are necessary for this to happen. Our region has first-class training centers, so we have developed a hub and partnerships with the institutes so interested parties can access all the academic offerings on-site and virtually in one place. Through this Committee, we are reinforcing our commitment to work with companies to identify where the main challenges are and how we can address them.”
The Committee is planning a regional pilot training symposium in Panama City in September. This meeting will be open to all interested in contributing and gaining more information and know-how on the attraction and training of aeronautical personnel in the region.
Ana Persiani, ALTA’s Director of Aeronautical Training and secretary of the committee, points out, “At ALTA, we are committed to supporting our members and the industry in projects for the safe and efficient conduct of aviation operations. The Training Committee is our region’s forum for discussion on aeronautical personnel training. We have initiated with the pilots working group to address the main challenges and opportunities in this field and develop together solutions and projects that support the continuous improvement of crews’ competencies, the integration of innovation in training equipment and methodologies for the proper development of resilience and the creation of initiatives to support the mental health and wellbeing of our personnel. We actively engage our member airlines, educational hub partners, and industry members who specialize in these topics to ensure comprehensive and optimal solutions for the industry.”