SAS offers a number of specialist – intensive “Train the Trainer“ courses to support internal training within a Part 145 Organization.
Please see https://sassofia.com/courses/
The training courses currently on offer include Maintenance Train the Trainer, Human Factors Train the Trainer, Internal Auditor Train the Trainer, Safety Management System Train the Trainer, Fuel Tank Safety FTS & Electrical Wiring Interconnect System (EWIS) Train the Trainer and Maintenance Error Decision Aid (MEDA) Train the Trainer.
Let’s have a clear understanding here, because it is important to understand that a 2 or 3 day training does not “Deliver” a trainer and clearly we would be naive if we were to believe this to be so. Rather it is part of a systematic process of building soft skills and competence across a range of topics which support the organization.
Developing your our own “Internal” EASA Part 145 Trainer to manage the organizations training obligations is a potentially very cost effective solution to managing your training needs.
Advantages
- Trainers do not have to be full time they can be successfully employed within the production environment.
- Trainers are available for new staff and can deliver training at relatively short notice
- Flexibility can be built into the program to support the development of competence management and oversight in accordance with the requirements of AMC 145.A.30 (e)
Disadvantages
- The program “MUST” be managed by a competent person who has a thorough understanding of all issues (For example the Quality Manager may act as consultant to this project by offering independent oversight)
- The competence of the instructors must also be ensured and managed (this is key to the success of the program as a weak instructor will deliver weak training which will undervalue and undermine the program)
It is taken for granted that there the instructor has as a prerequisite a deep knowledge of the underlying subject with which you intend to become your organization’s “Trainer.” For example it is not possible to take a person with little or no maintenance experience and to make this person the Human Factor Trainer (even it could be considered an organizational risk or exposure to believe this is possible). It would not be mentioned other than on a number of occasion the author was asked “If I do the HFTTT course can I deliver HF Training?” and the truth is that if you have to ask then probably not!
On another occasion a potential HF instructor was told by the regulator that the SAS course was insufficient and the person (not from a maintenance background) has to do additional HFTTT course. Whilst it is not at all surprising the regulator made this kind of remark our contention was this is actually “in appropriate” advice ! by the regulator, and of course such comments are usually miss understood and miss interpreted.
(EASA regulators are not oracles of wisdom and like all of us are able to misunderstand and miss communicate). Multiple TTT courses are of limited benefit in isolation and are of no benefit to the “wrong” person!
In fact to advise further that the author would have no hesitation in directly challenging such advice with EASA. It is the authors contention that the following is an acceptable pre-requisite to position correctly an instructor to deliver HF training (or indeed any other of the chosen training courses)
To reiterate the whole purpose of the SAS train the trainer course is to take a step on the journey which the organization must manage – it does not signify the entire journey.
The specific advantage of SAS training is that it is highly practical in nature and focuses very much on the challenges we face as trainers.
The following are typical attributes of a Maintenance Trainer :-
1/ Have a genuine desire to want to share knowledge in a practical way – if you do not enjoy standing up in front of a group to enthuse and motivate people it is unlikely that you will ever become an effective trainer – It should be a pleasure not a chore; !
2/ Have a strong maintenance background;
3/ Attend several courses (or be extremely familiar with the subject matter) for HF ideally by different instructors, at least 4 should be a minimum – more is better;.
4/ have an inquisitive mind and a desire to understand and investigate root causes and how these are impacted by human behaviour;
5/ Attend a HFTTT course and the SAS 3 day courses is ideal for this purpose as it focus on the challenges and solutions of delivering HF Training rather than the actual content (It is not a HF course);
SAS has been running the TTT course program for more than 4 years and many of the delegates (all from a maintenance background) are now regularly delivering HF and other training courses successfully in their respective organization’s.
So in conclusion the TTT course is not for everyone, It is for knowledgeable persons who are looking to hone there teaching skills and understand the challenges of successfully communicating with an adult audience.
As with all dedicated activities in our industry the key words is competence, competence in oversight and competence in delivery. The strength of the trainer comes from knowledge, background experience competency and exposure, the purpose of the train the trainer course is to consolidate this knowledge and experience and to consider the various challenges which we face in delivering a fully EASA compliant training to an adult audience.
If you would like details of the Sofema Aviation Services Train the Trainer Program please see www.sassofia.com or email team@sassofia.com
Tags:
aviation courses, EASA, Maintenance Trainer, Part 145, Regulatory training, Train The Trainer, TTT
