Vin Parker

Director of Learning & Development, Flight Operations Training, Republic Airways

Vin Parker is the director of learning and development at Republic Airways and continues to chair the RAA Training/AQP Working Group, since 2012. Prior to Republic, Vin was director of L&D and Inflight for a part 135 global jet operator, and was the general manager of AQP for pilot and cabin crew at Compass Airlines for over 10 years. Mr. Parker served as a contract consultant for the FAA AFS-280 Training & Simulator group, redeveloping the FAA’s AQP website, and the FAA AQP Inspector Training curriculum development team. He regularly participates in AQP, CBTA, EBT, MPL, and other crew training work groups, and the FAA ACT-ARC. Mr. Parker also provides independent AQP training counsel, including targeted pilot training studies on program effectiveness and pilot monitoring for NASA Ames Research Center and the San Jose State University Research Foundation.

Mr. Parker’s aviation career began in 1987 with Pan American World Airways, London (LHR); followed by Mesaba, Northwest, Delta, and Compass Airlines. He is a Fellow at the Royal Aeronautical Society.

AQP, CBTA, and Resilience Engineering

The global bridge of aviation training can link positive training methodologies between the U.S. and the ICAO space. But is AQP really a Competency-Based Training & Assessment (CBTA) program…? As adult educators in aviation, we are challenged to ensure crewmembers are trained to expand their adaptive capacity, operational resilience, and enhanced core competencies.

Currently, over 90% of part 121 carrier crewmembers in the U.S. are trained under an Advanced Qualification Program (AQP); and today’s alphabet overload of crew training programs offers numerous program options. Yet, AQP is currently the only FAA-approved alternative to its government prescribed training in the United States.

Should AQP be considered a TASK-based program – or a COMPETENCY-based program?

The answer is: Yes! – (both are true, but there is a caveat…!)

Intrinsically, the AQP guidance presented by the FAA outlines AQP as a task-based program. However, the foundational flexibility that AQP offers is a blank canvas for the operator to integrate measured criteria of competencies and behavioral indicators; to instruct beyond task outcomes. Using ISD and targeted competency methodology, AQP can (and should) be carefully designed as a CBTA program.

To help support measured competencies, the application of Resilience and Resilience Engineering, also provide an excellent extension of the competency framework. Resilience engineering is critical to support the crewmember’s ability to operate safely within desired conditions – but also in undesired and unexpected conditions.

With today’s alphabet overload in modern aviation training, it is important to stay focused on what matters. Let’s explore how AQP can be a CBTA – and how integrating resilience engineering is a very comfortable fit within the competency-based landscape of crewmember training and beyond.