Australia has a new type of aviation licence – the multi-crew pilot licence.  The Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Peter Gibson explains how the multi-crew pilot licence works.

What operations can a pilot engage in with a multi-crew pilot licence?
The multi-crew pilot licence is a very specific type of licence that has been created to take advantage of the best possible techniques in pilot training. People who choose to study for a multi-crew pilot licence will be aiming to become a co-pilot flying for an airline operating turbine aircraft with more than one pilot. All the training is aimed at that particular type of operation and if these pilots wish to do any other type of flying they must obtain further qualifications. They do not automatically qualify for a private pilot’s licence and cannot operate a single-pilot aircraft without additional training and qualifications. Australia’s multi-crew pilot licence follows the standards issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization in 2006, which were developed following comprehensive international consultation with many sectors of the aviation industry.

So what is the advantage of the new licence?
Many leading people in aviation around the world came to a view that the industry was failing to make the best possible use of modern training techniques and equipment such as sophisticated simulators. There was also evidence that teaching students to work in a multi-crew environment from the very start of their training could be more effective than traditional pathways, such as obtaining experience flying solo in smaller aircraft. There is a lot of emphasis on human factors training in the multi-crew pilot licence, with students taught how to work as a team and a focus on issues such as threat and error management. Indeed, the way training is conducted means students work as a team from the very early stages of their training, both in the classroom and flying simulators. Skills such as critical thinking, communication, risk management and decision making are formally addressed.

Does this mean that people following the traditional training path to become airline pilots are being disadvantaged?
No, we are certainly not saying the traditional training pathways are inadequate or develop less qualified pilots. People who work their way up from a private pilot’s licence, through a commercial licence, to an air transport pilot’s licence go through rigourous training and gather a great deal of experience. However, people following this path find that the move from a single-pilot operation to a multi-crew airline environment is a big step up and much they have already learnt has to be re-learned.  Clearly, flying a single-pilot charter operation is very different to being the co-pilot on a B737-700. The airlines have to train their new pilots not just to fly the aircraft type but to fly effectively in a complex team environment. This has been done successfully for many years and airlines will continue to do this now and into the future but there is the option of training from the very start for a multi-crew pilot licence. At this stage no Australian airlines have taken up the option of the multi-crew licence pathway, however, a growing number of overseas airlines are using this training approach.

Isn’t there a concern that these pilots might not have enough flying experience?
The syllabus for the licence requires a minimum of 240 hours flying experience, which is a mix of simulator time and time flying aircraft. The Australian standard requires at least 40 hours in aircraft. In terms of theory, the courses teaching the multi-crew pilot licence must cover the content included in the air transport pilot licence, the commercial pilot day visual flight rules syllabus, the type rating for the aircraft to be flown, the instrument rating and the flight radio operator licence. The outcome must be that the student has the same aeronautical knowledge as someone holding an air transport pilot’s licence. When all the simulator and aircraft training has been completed and the theory exams have been passed, students must undertake a flight test containing at least two sectors and operate both as pilot flying and pilot monitoring. This test includes normal and non-normal operations.

Did CASA consult with the aviation industry while developing the new licence and how have students performed?
CASA worked with the aviation industry for two years to develop the standards for the new licence. A special industry/CASA project team was set up of people with expertise in flying training, airline operations, simulator training and competency-based training. During the development phase a trial multi-crew pilot licence course was run in Brisbane by Alteon in conjunction with the Australian Airline Academy.  Six students from two Chinese airlines undertook a course training to become B737 co-pilots. The progress of the students was carefully monitored by the project team and the results right through the training were very positive. The students demonstrated excellent cockpit teamwork from the early stages of the course and found the use of high quality simulators aided practical training. CASA inspectors flew with the students in 737 aircraft as part of their final assessment and recorded performances beyond their experience levels. Challenges were responded to safely and effective team work was maintained.