The introduction of a new commercial passenger airliner obliges airlines to train existing pilots and crew on the new systems that come with the new model. However, given the pool of skills accumulated by flying and ground crews, re-training is often more of an upgrade rather than starting with a clean slate.
Alteon, Boeing’s training unit, have devised a heavily digitized training program for customers of the new Dreamliner 787, replicating the aircraft systems in the classroom and allowing students to practice on the same systems they will use on the aircraft. This applies to pilots through to maintenance staff. Pilots, however, have the added challenge of the flight simulator to familiarize themselves with the characteristics of the new plane.
With the Dreamliner, the mechanic’s main troubleshooting tool is a laptop computer. The Maintenance Performance Toolbox is an online store which provides the mechanic with real-time maintenance information needed to maintain and repair the aircraft.
Unlike previous training programs that used data intended just for training, maintenance-training courses for the Dreamliner will link to actual support data in the Maintenance Performance Toolbox. “Part of training is becoming comfortable with the airplane’s troubleshooting tools,” said Jeff Haber, manager of Dreamliner maintenance training. Using interactive 3-D models, each student can “walk” around the airplane, collect the tools needed and work in detail through the troubleshooting process, using the same skills in the classroom that will be used on the job. Computer-based training allows students to gain practical aircraft systems knowledge using desktop simulation tools. They can then integrate this knowledge within the flight deck environment through the Dreamliner Flight Training Device (FTD). The FTD provides flight crews with the same aircraft systems and interfaces as a full-flight simulator, including electronic flight bags and head-up displays for both pilots. It also provides a smooth transition to the Dreamliner full-motion simulator which allows pilots to become proficient in maneuvers and aircraft handling characteristics, including takeoffs, approaches and landings. The high degree of commonality between the Dreamliner and the 777 allows “differences” training from one model to the other in only five days without the use of a full-flight simulator. As a result, pilots can be trained for the Dreamliner in as few as 13 days. The Dreamliner transition course for pilots previously flying non-Boeing models takes 20 days, one day fewer than previous similar courses required.
“The only thing that I have an issue with is the so-called ‘differences’ training,” commented one senior captain in a major international airline. “Airbus started this a few years ago when they introduced the A330/340. It made sense because the aircraft handle exactly the same, and only has a few differences because of the different number of engines and the resulting slightly different systems and procedures.”
As far as he was aware it was still necessary for every pilot to spend some time in the simulator for each aircraft. “I don’t agree with Boeing that you can do 5 days of differences training, without simulator, to move from the 777 to the Dreamliner. I don’t think it is a good idea, and don’t think most airlines would do that anyway.”
The idea of shortening a pilot training course is an economic one. When a pilot is out of the cockpit for training, he is not producing any revenue, so the shorter the training, the less the revenue loss. “Pilot training courses have been shrinking over the last 15 to 20 years, and some of us feel that they are too short,” said our source. It seems that at Saudia, shortened courses have never been a concern, and the length of a course is not an issue.
Boeing lists 20 days of training for a pilot transitioning from a non-Boeing type to the Dreamliner. “That’s probably a little on the short side, but the bean counters will love it,” he concluded.
