ATPL Performance is Not a

Determination of Employability

EATS: Berlin, 2017

Dr Andy Taylor

Defining the issue

• Student pilots with good average marks in their ATPLs…

but

• Have multiple (3+) ATPLs re-sits…

however

• Demonstrate:

• passion and commitment

• excellent professional attitudes

• excellent natural aptitude (manual handling)

• Not being given a fair opportunity to gain employment after their

£100,000+ investment

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Exams

Positive

• Academic performance indicator

• Demonstrate ability to:

• Retain information

• Express ideas, facts and

information in a succinct and

focused manner

• Positive stress can motivate and

drive learning

• Success can empower confidence

Negative

• MCQ style:

• Ability to memorise facts

• Does not prove understanding

• Generally not sufficient to judge the

wider level of knowledge of a subject

• Mind-blocks can affect the result

• Failure can have a domino effect in

confidence

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EASA/CAA regulations

• 75% pass mark

• Must be completed within 18 months, in six exam sessions

• A fail requires further training, at the discretion of your ATO

• Four attempts per subject are permitted

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What are we looking for in a prospective pilot?

Technical skills:

• Hand/eye co-ordination

• Mechanical reasoning

• Spatial orientation

• Situational awareness

• Numeracy skills

• Capacity

Non-Technical Skills:

• Communication

• Team working

• Leadership

• Situation awareness

• Decision making

• Problem solving

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Additional Qualities and Attributes:

• Motivation

• Sense of responsibility

• Interpersonal and team skills

• Management skills or potential

• High personal standards

• Flexibility

• Resilience

• Business/customer focus

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What are we looking for in a prospective pilot?

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Are these measured

by the ATPL exams?

7

ATPL validity:

2016 survey demographics

• 95% of respondents (N = 112) were operational,

recently qualified or in training

• 73% of respondents had taken their ATPLs in the

previous 5 years

• 89% of respondents gained a 90% or greater average

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ATPL validity

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

None Very Little Not Much Some Most All

%

Percentage of operational pilots using ATPL syllabus on a daily basis at work

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ATPL validity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Very Little Not Much Some Most Yes

%

Is the full ATPL syllabus relevant to commercial operations today?

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ATPL validity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Very Little Not Much Some Most All

%

How much of the ATPL syllabus pilots would clearly recall in an exam, without revision or preparation

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Toby’s story

• Doesn’t like exams, but demonstrated exceptional commitment & dedication

• Took one year to complete ATPLs

• Failed and re-sat four – 88% average overall

• Competent pilot and professional approach to flying

• Recommended to do airline preparation course (£15,000)

• Passed (preparation and selection elements)

• Not put forward for jobs due to “one-too-many” ATPL resits

• Now an Instructor, training those who will probably beat him to an FO position!

• Others – Adrian, Edd, James, Yash, Miguel, Adam, Leighton.....

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A personal example!

• My Dad

• Intelligent, but bad at exams

• Never passed the Sergeant’s exam

• Decorated for bravery & professionalism

His inability to pass exams did not mean he was a

bad Police Officer!

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Your preference for a pilot?

Candidate 1 (Toby)

• Hard working, committed, dedicated

• Passed all ATPLs with 88% average

(4 re-sits)

• Events Manager for Oxford University

in summer

• Pleasant, positive attitude, not shy

• Professional approach to flying

• Safety aware

• Passed airline preparation course

• Rejected due to ATPLs

Candidate 2

• Worked hard for ATPLs

• Passed all ATPLs with 96% average

(no re-sits)

• Never had a job

• Arrogant, cocky, argumentative,

disrespectful, rude

• Nearly refused access to airline

preparation courses due to attitude

• Allowed access and passed

• FO with major European airline

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Would ATPLs…

…have prevented:

• Air France 447?

• Asiana 214?

• Turkish Airways 1529?

• Air Inter 248?

• British Midland 92?

• Air Florida 90?

• Swissair 111?

No: type rating and simulator training would

…have helped with:

• United 232?

• US Airways 1549?

• TACA 110?

• Air Canada 143?

• Air Transat 236?

No: type rating, CRM, teamwork, creative thinking, luck, and positive attitudes did!

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Summary

• Today’s pilots are paying for their own training

• They are allowed to re-take exams

• Once they have passed an exam, they have passed it and have the

required knowledge

• Pilots need far more competencies than the ability to pass exams

• Individuals should have the opportunity to demonstrate all

competencies, before we knock them back for re-sitting some exams

• Airlines want the “best of the best”, but first time ATPL passes don’t

make a good pilot…eveything else does!

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION