Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com is pleased to share that a new course has been added to our training portfolio:
Critical Thinking for Airline Operational & Maintenance Leaders – 2 Days
Available as a Classroom or Webinar training* – Register at [email protected]
*New – Participants can now enrol Free of Charge (FOC) in a complementary 1- day Sofema Online (SOL) training to enhance their learning experience.
What is the training about?
This Critical Thinking for Airline Operational & Maintenance Leaders course empowers aviation leaders to make sound decisions in complex, high-stakes situations. Participants will learn to challenge assumptions, identify cognitive biases, and apply structured problem-solving tools, all within the context of EASA, ICAO, and FAA safety frameworks. Through interactive exercises and real-world aviation case studies, the course builds confidence in leading teams with clarity, fostering a culture of reasoned dialogue, proactive risk management, and continuous improvement. Read more
Which topics 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
Why should you choose Sofema Aviation Services?
Sofema Aviation Services is a Regulatory training and consulting company with over 45 years of commercial aviation experience and 17+ years of operational experience. Since our start, we have achieved over 150,000 enrolments and grown for two primary reasons! The first is that we are professional, and we listen to our customers. Please visit our download area as an example of how we engage with our customers. The second is not only the fact that our prices are far more cost-effective than our competitors, but it is also that our discount program leaves all the others way behind – please do not take our word for it, check it out – SAS Discount Program.
What do people say about Sofema Aviation Services training?
“I found satisfying answers to all my questions.”
“The instructor demonstrated a very deep knowledge of the subject.”
“The length of the course fits my needs and expectations.”
“The content was really effective, I gained a lot of new knowledge.”
“The practical examples were perfectly delivered.”
Hone your critical thinking skills. Contact [email protected] to enrol!
Tags:
aviation experience, operational settings, operational audit, EASA Safety Management Systems (SMS), Line Maintenance AOG, Critical Path Analysis (CPA), aviation decision-making, Critical Thinking, aviation case studies, Aircraft Maintenance, Aviation Risk Management, New SAS training, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Risk Control, FAA, Hazard Identification, EASA
