On the Job Training (OJT) is different to Practical Training, which is required for every type licence. OJT is only required for the the first type rating in a (sub)category of aircraft; and typically addresses either young mechanics (e.g. “newcomers”) or mechanics having no experience in that new (sub)category of aircraft (e.g. extension of the license).
The final assessment of the completed OJT is mandatory and essentially includes an assessment concerning the completeness of the whole OJT process
On-the-Job Training (OJT)
“A maintenance organisation appropriately approved for the maintenance of the particular aircraft type” means a Part-145 or M.A. Subpart F approved maintenance organisation holding an A rating for such aircraft.
The OJT should include one to one supervision and should involve actual work task performance on aircraft/components, covering line and/or base maintenance tasks.
The use of simulators for OJT should not be allowed.
The OJT should cover at least 50% of the tasks contained in Appendix II to AMC to Part- 66.
Some tasks should be selected from each paragraph of the Appendix II list.
Tasks should be selected among those applicable to the type of aircraft and licence (sub) category applied for.
All report(s) or feedback from the supervisor(s) having monitored every actual job task performance or any other source of information (use of manuals and procedures; observance of safety measures, warnings and recommendations; adequate behaviour in the maintenance environment), the designated assessor should be in a position to:
Ensure that the OJT procedure was fully met (in terms of objective and content); and check that the competence of the candidate was positively assessed.
In case of doubt, the assessor may decide to proceed him/herself to an additional evaluation of the candidate or perform a gap analysis when the OJT procedure is not fully met such as an insufficient number of tasks or diversity of tasks or unclear supervisor’s report regarding the candidate’s performance. The supervisor should not sign the actual task if the person did not achieve the required competence in safe task performance.
How to ensure satisfactory accomplishment of OJT?
“It is sufficient that the completion of individual OJT tasks is confirmed by the direct supervisor(s), without being necessary the direct evaluation of the assessor”, and
“The function of the assessor, as described in Section 6 of Appendix III to Part-66, is to conduct the final assessment of the completed OJT. This assessment should include confirmation of the completion of the required diversity and quantity of OJT and should be based on the supervisor(s) reports and feedback”.
It is left to the decision of the competent authority how to comply with this requirement: the AMC as suggested by the Agency aims at avoiding additional burden, duplication or over-regulation while proposing a simple final evaluation process.
Up to 50% of the required OJT may be undertaken before the aircraft theoretical type training starts.
The organisation providing the on-the-job training should provide trainees a schedule or plan indicating the list of tasks to be performed under supervision.
A record of the tasks completed should be entered into a logbook, which should be designed such that each task or group of tasks is countersigned by the corresponding supervisor.
The logbook format and its use should be clearly defined.
Sofema Aviation Services offers a range of EASA compliant vocational and regulatory training. For any comments or questions please email :office@sassofia.com
