Tony Shen

Flight schools nowadays face challenges in flight instructor training, including profound competency variance of new hires and training effectiveness within their relatively short tenure. Our previous standardization and recurrent trainings simply focused on knowledge, flying skills and procedures; however, they were not able to cover all safety topics and ensure full evaluation of CFI competency. Training and developing new hires to the ideal level remains a time-consuming process and is lacking quantifiable data for continuous improvements. Things have improved significantly since CBTA/EBT were implemented in our new-hire standardization, annual recurrent training and newly-implemented simulator-based recurrent training every 6 months. The new scenario-based training/assessment encompassing complete flight phases with 25-30 different scenarios per session allow well-trained evaluators to grade trainees on 9 pilot competencies based on well-defined observable behaviors. Follow-up sessions are required to address the weaknesses discovered in the previous sessions until the requirements are met. CBTA/EBT data, including evidences from stage checks, checkrides and SMS reports, are used for continuous improvements in CFI training and development including standardization and recurrent trainings as well as mandatory monthly trainings and quarterly workshops. Furthermore, CBTA/EBT enables individualization in training, which not only enhances training effectiveness, but also help increase confidence of trainees. Our next step is to consider the possibility of incorporating CBTA/EBT into airline cadet programs to provide complete pilot competency profile from ab-initio training for future employers.