See report `Advanced Technology Aircraft Safety Survey'
The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation recommends that the Civil
Aviation Safety Authority:
Review the achievement requirements for aircraft technical
examinations with the aim of improving the knowledge pilots possess
regarding mode characteristics and application.
The BASI recommendations to CASA are pro-active ie not based on
an identified failure but rather a potential failure. The following
are the responses to recommendations affecting Flight Crew
Licensing.
R980035
"Review the achievement requirements for aircraft technical
examinations with the aim of improving the knowledge pilots possess
regarding mode characteristics and application".
CASA currently examines both technical and human factors aspects
of operating modes in the ATPL written examination. The technical
aspects of selection, recognition and output are pitched at a
generic level utilising the B767 EFIS/FMS as a typical aircraft
system. Human factors aspects are covered in a separate examination
and questions are designed to test candidates' awareness of the
safety issues.
With regard to technical examinations for specific aircraft
types, these are normally set by the aircraft operator's own check
and training organisation and CASA does not set the syllabus for
these examinations.
This recommendation has been passed to CASA's Airline Operations
Branch who will consider ways in which CASA can ensure that such
knowledge testing can be incorporated in airline training
systems.
The Bureau wrote to CASA on 19 November 1999 as follows:
"19980035 - The Bureau of Air Safety Investigation recommends
that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority:
Review the achievement requirements for aircraft technical
examinations with the aim of improving the knowledge pilots possess
regarding mode characteristics and application.
Response classification: OPEN
CASA has advised that "this recommendation has been passed to
CASA's Airline Operations Branch who will consider ways in which
CASA can ensure that such knowledge testing can be incorporated in
airline training systems".
To date, the Bureau has received no further advice from CASA on
the progress of R19980035 and therefore requests such advice as
soon as practical.
Further responses, as indicated, to the above recommendations
are requested at your earliest convenience. In addition, for the
purpose submitting a clear indication of whether CASA accepts,
partially accepts or rejects recommendations made by the Bureau, it
would be appreciated if a clear statement to this effect could be
made on each recommendation before any further comment is offered.
Guidance on this protocol can be found in the current Memorandum of
Understanding between CASA and the Bureau."
