The concern related to the short time spent in the aircraft by the testing officer with candidates when conducting both the initial issue and renewal of instructor ratings by the organisations testing officers.
The reporter has expressed a safety concern in relation to the time taken to conduct both the initial issue and renewal testing for an instructor rating.
The reporter advised that he has seen testing varying from 0.6 to 0.9 hours which must include, engine run-ups, taxiing, departure, re-join of the circuit and taxi back to the hangar.
Reporter comment: I understand that these aircraft are simpler than most GA aircraft; however, I struggle to see how anybody can fully assess a person’s competence to instruct in such a short space of time.
The REPCON report provided raises areas of potential concern regarding appropriate check and assessment processes when an instructor rating initial test and renewal were conducted.
As there is insufficient information to determine if the examiner was delinquent in the appropriate amount of time for a specific initial issue or renewal (the report is not clear if this is one or more separate assessments), there is little we can do to follow this report up.
I advise the writer that we are scheduling a professional development course in March or April 2015. This course is intended to ensure all examiners conduct initial issue assessments of instructor candidates to appropriate organisational standards. Examiners with these privileges include regional coordinators, pilot examiners, and instructor trainers. This standardisation training will address specific areas such as initial issue for instructor ratings along with appropriate renewal processes.
Further, a chief flying instructor may conduct renewals for an instructor and senior instructor. As such, the circumstances of the specific renewal may include previous mutual flights and observed ground briefings conducted over a period leading up the specific renewal date. These renewals may therefore be conducted in a time which may appear to an outside observer to be insufficient time to conduct a thorough renewal.
Without further specific information as to the location of the flights and the names of the examiner, there is little further detail I can provide.
We remain committed to continued standards of instructors, senior instructors, chief flying instructors and higher approval holders within our organisation.
CASA has reviewed the REPCON and agrees with the comments from the organisation in question that it is difficult to provide a specific response without further details of the locations, dates and persons involved.
However, CASA has sought advice about whether the organisation are intending to provide safety education or guidance material (either by a web based statement or by email to persons that may be responsible within their system for this type of training), or if not, what steps they might be contemplating to advise or educate the current testing officers on correct procedures and acceptable flight times.