The Senior Training Advisors (SRTAs) are highly experienced trainers/examiners who share their knowledge and skills with the HQ Training Department in order to accomplish an effective operation.
All the responsibilities of the Senior Training Advisor have been defined in different points for a better understanding of the position.
Senior Training Advisors have defined missions to follow.
- This is a group that has set communication and interaction within the team mandatory for every project of common interest for the department.
- They assist and advise the TD/TAD in all matters concerning the development of the department.
- They collaborate with the other teams within the department providing feedback, assistance and advice.
- They are responsible for division mentorship in all matters related to training.
- They are responsible for conducting high level exams (ATP and/or SEC).
- They are collectively responsible for the elaboration of the training/exam policy, guidelines, content, marking standards and sheets whilst ensuring its compliance across the network.
- They provide feedback and advice about the activity of HQ Pilots observed during training/exam sessions they are responsible for.
Senior Training Advisors must be aware of its obligations described below.
- Confidentiality - Activities related to training and exams must be strictly non-disclosed to the outside of their team as well as any other nominative information.
- Minimum Activity - Account inactivity immediately results in a removal from the staff position. Any lengthy period of inactivity should be notified and previously coordinated with the TD/TAD.
- Reactivity - Be able to react to messages, emails, and requests, from within or outside the department, in a timeframe of 48h maximum.
- Collegiality - Every member of the team is expected to participate in both the common tasks (mentorship and senior exams) and other specific tasks (projects), to share his opinion and view on all matters related to the development of the department, whenever required by the TD/TAD.
- Communication - Every member of the team is expected to communicate with the rest of the team about common activities, projects and ideas. While the voice meetings should be favoured for all formal and informal exchanges, a written summary (especially in case of decision making or schedule/milestones/list of actions) is required on any occasion the information needs to be shared and/or stored for future reference.
Senior Training Advisors possess some rights granted by the Rules & Regulations.
- Appointed SRTAs are associated with the assignment of the Senior Flight Instructor (SFI) and Senior ATC Instructor (SAI) ratings. This distinction is removed when leaving the position.
- For training/exams purposes, all SRTAs may connect to any ATC position in the network, regardless of FRAs and GCA restrictions.
- All SRTAs may observe and/or intervene in all training and exam sessions performed across the network if deemed necessary without prior approval. Therefore, they may request access to any training or exam session and the respective permission must be granted independently of the platform. (eg. discord, teamspeak, etc).
The HQ Training Department is responsible for the constant monitoring of divisional Training Departments activities providing them with assistance and advice through the Mentorship Programme. This philosophy aims to achieve the following objectives.
- Assisting and supporting the division in all related training and exam activities.
- Follow-up of the divisional Training Departments.
- Meet the TC/TAC and eventually the whole division training team at least once a year to review the past year's activity and set up milestone for the next. This yearly review is summarised in a written document called Divisional Training Summary, based on a template common to the whole HQ Training Department.
- If needed, meet the TC/TAC/DIR/ADIR to set up objectives and priorities.
- If needed, contact/meet the Division HQ for all specific issues related to the division Training Department where the TC/TAC are not able and/or willing to reach a satisfactory solution.
- Monitor possible delays between exams/training request, assignment, evaluation and validation.
- Follow-up of each divisional Training Staff member.
- Ensure training activity as a division DIR/ADIR/TC/TAC/TA and TR complies with the minimum activity requirements, otherwise, the individual is subject to have his trainer/examiner status revoked.
- Promote career evolution within the division.
- Ensure that the new divisional Training Staff members are properly briefed and qualified.
- Validating the exams and monitoring their status according to the standards described in the exam policy.
- Issuing staff exam approval numbers according to the standards described in the exam policy.
- Management of the Approved Examiner badges.
- Ensure the examinations executed by the candidate are up to the appropriate standards before issuing the badge.
- Issue the Approved Examiner badge only after informing TD/TAD.
- Verify every 6 (six) months that all approved examiners fulfil the conditions to keep their badge, otherwise, eventually assess the need of revoking it.
- Ensuring that all training sessions and exams meet the network standards. This activity may be delegated to the divisional TC/TAC/DIR/ADIR.
- Conducting exams and/or training sessions for ratings in divisions where no qualified staff member exists.
- Promoting the culture of division TML progression aiming to increase the autonomy level.
- Assisting and advising in all matters concerning the documentation available to the division members, eventually in cooperation with the Training Documentation Team.
¶ Training and Exams
All SRTAs may perform, observe, and supervise exams and training sessions of all ranks and all divisions. While their presence does not require any specific justification, it is a good practice, if the case allows for it, to inform the involved examiner(s) in advance.
Division training and exams are only performed within active divisions. SRTAs are not supposed to perform exams or training sessions in non-active divisions.
All SRTAs may be qualified to perform senior exams.
- In order to be qualified for a senior exam type (ATP or/or SEC), the SRTA is assigned as a second examiner with an already qualified SRTA for at least 2 (two) exams. In this case, the first examiner is expected to mentor (explain, illustrate and advise) the second examiner. Then, the non-qualified examiner is assigned as the first examiner with an already qualified SRTA for at least two (2) exams. In this case, the first examiner is expected to be fully autonomous and the second examiner only provides assistance and feedback to the TD/TAD concerning the qualification process. The authorization to perform a senior exam type independently is finally granted by the TD/TAD and can be revoked if deemed necessary.
- The qualification for ATP and SEC exams must follow independent processes.
- In case of a SEC exam, the presence of the HQ Pilots Group must be requested. Issuing a recommendation for the division to promote an event to increase traffic levels on the time and location of the exam can also be considered.
- Each qualified SRTA should perform at least 3 (three) exams per year, one of which as the first examiner, in order to maintain his qualification.
- In case the qualification is lost, one single exam as first examiner with an already qualified SRTA, is sufficient to be requalified by the TD/TAD.
- In all cases, the assignment of both the first and the second examiner for a senior exam is performed by the TD/TAD to ensure fair workload sharing within the team.
- Training sessions for exams shall follow the specified below.
- They are only performed on-demand and to members who had already passed the corresponding theoretical examination.
- A Trainer is considered qualified to conduct sessions only for the ratings he already holds.
- Divisional TC/TAC should be recommended, if possible, to avoid allocating the same person as a trainer and examiner for a particular candidate.
- Training sessions for senior exams (SEC and/or ATP) should only be performed by a qualified Division or HQ Trainer with the proper ratings. This training can be requested to the HQ Training Department or the member’s division.
- In the event an SRTA performs an ATP/SEC training, whenever possible, the examiners of the senior exam should be different from the one who performed a training session.