Introduction
In today’s complex aviation environment, the ability to think critically is not a luxury—it is an essential skill for operational and maintenance leaders tasked with making high-stakes decisions under pressure. From addressing urgent technical issues on the flight line to navigating regulatory compliance, resource constraints, and evolving safety challenges, leaders must balance multiple priorities while safeguarding operational integrity, safety, and commercial viability.
This course, Critical Thinking for Airline Operational & Maintenance Leaders, is specifically designed to build the analytical mindset and structured reasoning skills required to navigate these demands effectively. It equips participants with practical tools to challenge assumptions, identify and mitigate cognitive biases, and apply systematic problem-solving approaches to real-world aviation scenarios. Through interactive sessions, leadership simulations, and case studies drawn from actual aviation events, participants will learn how to approach complex decisions methodically, weigh risk factors, and ensure robust, defensible outcomes.
Critical thinking is not only about individual decision-making—it is about fostering a culture where teams engage in clear, reasoned dialogue, question the status quo constructively, and collectively drive continuous improvement. This course supports leaders in embedding critical thinking within their teams, aligning it with safety management principles, and meeting the rigorous standards of EASA, ICAO, and FAA frameworks.
Whether resolving a time-critical maintenance issue, managing an operational disruption, or addressing an audit finding, this training will empower you to lead with clarity, confidence, and accountability in the face of uncertainty.
What is the Benefit of this Training – What will I learn?
a) Foundations of Critical Thinking in Aviation Operations
b) Applying Critical Thinking in Leadership and Decision-Making
c) Leading with Critical Thinking
d) Critical Thinking in Safety Management and Compliance
e) Complex Decision-Making Simulation
f) Embedding Critical Thinking in the Organisation
g) Personal Action Plans and Commitments
Who is the course for?
- Airline operational leaders (Flight Ops, OCC, Safety)
- CAMO managers and postholders
- Part 145 maintenance managers and supervisors
- Safety, quality, and compliance managers
- Anyone responsible for operational or maintenance decision-making in aviation
Detailed Content / Topics – The following Subjects will be addressed
Introduction to Critical Thinking in the Aviation Context
Defining critical thinking for operational and maintenance leaders
The value of critical thinking in aviation decision-making
Regulatory and operational imperatives: Why it matters in EASA, ICAO, FAA contexts
Characteristics of a critical thinker: Open-mindedness, clarity, and fairness
Types of cognitive biases (confirmation bias, availability bias, overconfidence, anchoring, etc.)
Case studies: How biases have impacted safety and operations
Tools for bias recognition and mitigation in operational settings
The problem-solving cycle: Define, analyze, evaluate, decide, act
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Critical Path Analysis (CPA) in maintenance decision-making
Risk-based thinking: Integrating safety and performance considerations
Scenario: Resolving a Line Maintenance AOG under time pressure
Applying structured thinking tools: Clarifying facts, identifying assumptions, weighing options
Setting personal critical thinking objectives
Applying Critical Thinking in Leadership and Decision-Making
How leaders influence critical thinking in teams
Critical conversations: Facilitating productive dialogue under pressure
Balancing operational, safety, and commercial demands through structured decision-making
Safety cases and risk assessments: A critical thinking perspective
Decision-making under uncertainty: Managing incomplete or ambiguous information
EASA Safety Management Systems (SMS) and the role of critical thinking in hazard identification and risk control
Scenario: Handling a compliance finding during an operational audit
Step-by-step application of critical thinking tools
Managing stakeholder expectations: Regulatory bodies, management, teams
Building a culture of critical thinking in operations and maintenance
Continuous improvement and feedback loops
Overcoming organisational barriers to critical thinking
Each participant defines how they will integrate critical thinking into their role
Group discussion: Sharing action plans
Closing remarks and feedback
Target groups
This course is intended for airline operational leaders, CAMO and Part 145 managers, and professionals involved in safety, quality, and compliance decision-making.
Pre-requisites
Participants should have prior experience in operational or maintenance roles within the aviation industry and a foundational understanding of safety and regulatory frameworks.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define and contextualize critical thinking
- Identify and assess common cognitive biases
- Apply structured critical thinking models
- Evaluate complex, time-critical decisions
- Demonstrate leadership behaviours that promote critical thinking
- Integrate critical thinking into Safety Management Systems (SMS)
- Develop personal action plans
- Collaborate effectively in team-based scenarios, participating in leadership
What do People Say about Sofema Aviation Services Training?
“I found satisfying answers to all my questions.”
“The instructor demonstrated very deep knowledge of the subject.”
“The length of the course fit my needs and expectations.”
“The content was really effective, I gained a lot of new knowledge.”
“The practical examples were perfectly delivered.”
Duration
2 days – Start at 09:00 and finish at 17:00, with appropriate refreshment breaks.
Registration: Email: [email protected] or Call: +359 2 821 08 06
