Page 6 - InterPilot 2019 Issue 3

PRESIDENT’S EDITORIAL PAGE 6

Editorial

“It all comes down to trust. Trust towards the regulator,

trust towards the manufacturer, trust towards the

operator. At the Summit, all the stakeholders from

IATA, FAA, and Boeing, to Regulators and ICAO,

pointed to the pilots as the main symbol of trust for

the public.”

In this context, it is important that IFALPA coordi- gradual erosion of training time will have a delayed
nate our input to the FAA, EASA, Transport Cana- effect as the older generation of pilots leave the left
da, and ANAC, on a global level. seat and take their experience with them.”
(https://bit.ly/2J3ikYI)
Normally, the inputs would come separately,
through each national MA, without much use of The opportunities for varied and customized train-
IFALPA. However, in this context, we believe it is ing were presented well by CAE during the meet-
very important to align in the same way as the ing, but investments by the operators are required,
regulators do. and regulators must be able to withstand the cost
perspective in their assessments. Based on Boe-
Point number 3, Training. This is an extremely im- ing’s prediction of the need for 600,000 new pilots
portant part of the whole problem. We have seen over the next 20 years, this becomes increasingly
that the requirements for training and qualifica- important to maintain future requirements for the
tion have gradually been reduced over the last flight safety standard.
decades for economic reasons. Some will argue
that new technology and reduced fail margins and As I mentioned, it all comes down to trust. Trust
frequencies mean that the need for training is not towards the regulator, trust towards the manufac-
the same as it once was. turer, trust towards the operator. At the Summit,
all the stakeholders from IATA, FAA, and Boeing, to
But it is precisely because systems have become Regulators and ICAO, pointed to the pilots as the
increasingly complex and failures occur less often main symbol of trust for the public. IFALPA will, in
that there is a need for more and relevant training. a trustworthy and reliable way, contribute to the
As type training is recommended by the OEM and process of return-to-service of the MAX, but always
approved by the regulator; I firmly believe that, as with a view to safer skies as our main goal, in this
a profession, we should have a greater say in this and in all our ventures.
process.
What is IFALPA’s position on the MAX at this mo-
As IFALPA’s Pilot Training Standards Manual States, ment? We are doing our utmost to validate the pro-
“In a world of growing competitions, we need to cess; we cannot presently approach the public with
improve and increase the amount of training a a clean bill , but will, if and when we feel comfort-
professional pilot receives, not diminish it. The able to do so.

©2019 The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations. This publication is provided for information purposes only, in all cases pilots should
follow their company’s guidance and procedures. In the interest of flight safety, reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is encouraged. It may not
be offered for sale or used commercially. All reprints must credit IFALPA.

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Captain Jack Netskar, IFALPA President