FC5396

This is an issue that has been reported to CHIRP on numerous occasions. On the face of it, perhaps a somewhat trivial one, but the number of reports we have received indicates it has become a genuine concern for flight crew. Some airlines now deliver all their training via iPads, whilst others still provide a full face to-face training package to new joiners. Therefore, training delivery methods are not standardised across the industry. When an update to training procedures contained on electronic devices is required, some airlines may not want to pay for multiple licences, which then requires flight deck crew to come to operations to wipe and then reload their iPad. Setting up the device again from zero, so to speak, may take up to an hour to accomplish. Not counting such activities as duty doesn’t feel in the spirit of the FTL regulations. In contrast, there are some airlines that do allow crew to make a booking to come in for the procedure as part of their duty time. Finding efficiencies with the use of new technology should obviously be applauded, moreover, there are significant training enhancements to be gained with the innovative use of online training methods. On the economic side, the introduction of such technology was clearly intended to save training costs for organisations. Therefore, paying flight crew (as duty time) to attend to reboot, or collect devices, might be viewed by some airlines as counterproductive. There is a balance to be achieved, and airlines should appreciate that with new technology also come additional tasks, which need to be reasonably accommodated when considering what constitutes a duty.