IPPTG
Report for year ended 31st December 2015
IPPTG has continued to lobby and work with EAASA to resolve the many issues outstanding on both EASA FCL and EASA Flight operations. We have had a successful year and the following is an overview of our activity.
Undoubtedly the highlight occurred actually in November 2014 when the undersigned was approached by EASA to establish a high level Policy Group to take on board all issues relating to Professional Pilot Training since they accepted when attending the Annual meeting in 2014 that there were a great many issues affecting our sector of the industry of which they were either unaware or unable to resolve.
This Group, now known as the Air Training Policy Group (ATPG) was set up and Terms of Reference agreed with its first meeting in January 2015 and has held 5 meetings in 2015. Representatives from EASA Executive Board sit on the Group which has been well attended and identified many issues in need of attention. The membership consists of, and is capped at, 10 accepted individuals, all from various sectors of the Professional Pilot Training sector including Training Organisations, Airlines and the European Cockpit Association. There are no representatives from any National Authorities. This is an EASA Group, not to establish Rule-making but to guide EASA to take actions to resolve issues which do encompass Rule Making and to establish an action programme.
ATPG has joint Chairmen, Ricardo Genova, Executive Director, EASA, responsible for matters FCL and Flight Operations, and the undersigned, the latter being proposed and accepted unanimously by Group Members. EASA staff involvement is considerable – the last meeting called upon a total of eight EASA staff members all of whom were fully engaged in the proceedings. Each meeting has had a very full agenda and lasts a full day. The industry members have held a pre-meeting the evening before each meeting.
Part of the reason for this group is to propose new issues for incorporation in the EASA programme and these have included Evidence Based Training and the rewriting of sub-parts J and K of EASA FCL, both of which Groups star6ted actual work in first quarter 2016.
One major change has been achieved with regard to the MPL in 2015 which moved the licence issue forward to completion of the initial phase thus allowing individuals to have a licence issued even if their sponsoring airline fails. Additionally a change will come into force in the second half of 2016 to reduce the numbering of landings on type required by graduates to the same as for an ATPL.
In addition to actual ATPG meetings there have been numerous specific meetings between the two chairmen to push the many identified issues forward. The specified EASA Manager for ATPG and its proposals is Georges Rebender who has an excellent grasp of the problems.
In identifying the Group membership it was important to encompass all sectors of the Professional Pilot training sector, thus members include both large and small, fixed-wing and rotary, and all sectors of the actual industry. The responsibilities include both flying and technical training and the identified problems are considerable.
Whilst it is outside the time-scale of this report, I should add that in the new structure being put into place within EASA the ATPG is now confirmed as the sole responsible body for Professional Aircrew training and testing and its constitution has been fully accepted by the EASA Executive Board and the European Commission.
On other matters, IPPTG again hosted its annual meeting coincidental with the annual European Aviation Training Symposium (EATS) which was held in 2015 in Warsaw. Some 150 Heads of Training attended this meeting which gave a review of the IPPTG activities and opened the floor to all present to contribute to discussion. This meeting is sponsored by Halldale Media and it is pleasing to note their continued support. In 2016 the meeting will be held at the Estrel Hotel, Berlin on 31st October 2016, starting at 19.00 Hrs. This is our industry’s opportunity to raise any issues and problems that they are facing and many ATPG members will be present.
There are urgent needs to bring about the resolution of many issues, amongst which are:
The rewriting of EASA FCL – in particular sub-parts J & K
The introduction of Evidence Based Training
The introduction of Performance Based Regulation
The formation and acceptance of self-regulation with the EASA Rules of acceptable FTOs
The removal of bureaucratic requirements
The Standardisation between the EASA Member States of interpretation of the requirements
These are all agenda items formally lodged with EASA and we believe that all can be resolved if we continue to push for their resolution. The support of our members is vital for this to be achieved.
Peter Moxham FRAeS
Chairman
IPPTG