How to Calculate the number of Trainers Required

The trainers are the most important resource to run a school. I am sharing the formula that can be used to forecast the requirements of trainers required. However, always bear in mind that this is only a forecast and there is always room for error.

There are a few assumptions we have to made. The forecasted may change if the assumption changes. The assumptions are:

a. The class hour per group is 2400 hour for a period of 4 years. (Note: Part 66 EASA states that the training hours is 2400 hr minimum and 40% can be practical.

b. The course of study is 4 years.

c. Instructors teaching hours is 70 hours per month

A. The calculation of the number of instructors:.

If you have 4 intakes per year, and your current number of class is 6, then in one years time you will have 10 classes.

- 10 classes will require 10x2400 hours for 4 years.

- therefore the hour per year = 10x2400/4 hours

= 6000 hours per year

- therefore nbr of instructors = 6000/12 divided by 70

= 7.1 instructors

B. The situation get more complex if the trainers are specialized. Some can only teach airframe, some can do engine and others probably electric. The calculation requires dividing the contents into separate trade.

Maintenance School Technical Instructor

As we are expecting a further expansion to our school, we are in the process of getting more technical instructors.

There are basically 2 groups of instructors, the basic knowledge instructors and the workshop practical instructors. Between these two groups, the qualification requirements are different:

a. Knowledge instructors - They are the trainers that conduct the modular courses meeting the requirements of Part 66.

b. The workshop instructors - they conduct the practical components of the course. Some examples are.. the basic engineering, where the students learn how to file, drill a hole, do the sheet metal works.

The part 66/ 147  give the division between the theory and practical components of the training. The percentage of practical training is about 50%.

The requirements for the trainers are:
- An  aircraft maintenance engineer with 5 year experience on Airframe, Engine or Avionics
or a current trainers with 5 years experience teaching the above categories.

The recruitment Process
We are following the traditional methods of recruitment. We will be advertising for the position in a local newspaper. Then the short-listed applicants will be called for an interview. Normally. we will ask them to provide a short mock teaching for about 10 minutes duration.

Qualifying the Aviation Trainer

The trainers are the key personnel for an aviation school. They are the group that have the direct effect on the students performance. Because of the importance, the aviation authorities, such as FAA and EASA have installed the rules and regulation specific to the trainers (instructors). The guidelines by EASA is about qualifying the trainers and the continuing training.

A. Qualifying for Trainers

The CAA UK is very specific on how aviation trainer to be qualified. The standard document 46 list the requirements as given below:

- The trainers must have undergone an instructional training course.

- Able to demonstrate their understanding of part 66 and 147 knowledge.

- Hold the approved license, if he is teaching courses for B1-1, then he has to have the license.

- The requirement for the license can be replaced by experience as instructors .

B. Implementation of the ATO (approved training school)

An approved school is required to come up with its own procedure to qualify the trainers based on the given guidelines . The policy and procedure to be listed in the TOE (training organisation exposition). It should consist of the followings:

- description of eligible candidate for the position of the trainer. The requirements have to be meeting the requirements of the regulation.

- the process to qualify him to be a trainer. Which include the competencies required, the training to be given and the assessment to be given.

The qualified trainers have to be listed in the TOE. A process has to be observed to endure that the trainers are kept current by giving them the continuing training.


HOW WE DO IT


Our original plan was to do one week program  of the train the trainer. However due to heavy commitment, we are not able to schedule program thus delaying the plan. The next alternative is to send them for the external course. As the course is conducted by a government agency, the cost is rather low.


We also identify the competencies required. Basically is will be putting the requirements that the trainers should be able to:
- deliver a course
- prepare the training notes
- make the suitable presentation material and graphic
- carry out the assessment.

The Assessors and the Assessment

One of the characteristic of the EASA licensing system under Part 66 is the majority of the tasks are to be done by the approved training school, part 147 school. The application for the grant of the licenses can be made by the students of the school and the following documents are required:-

1. Evidence of theoretical knowledge
2.  Practical skills Task and assessment
3.   Assessment of maintenance experience by assessors

Please take note the documents are produced by the school.  The evidence of theoretical knowledge can be obtained by taking and passing the 12 or 13 modules designed for basic knowledge examinations. The course itself shall take about 2400 hours or 2 years. The practical skills are obtained by the various practical jobs done during the course.

If you are familiar with the earlier Section L BCAR license, the assessment of the practical competencies were assessed by the CAA surveyors. However that practice has stopped. The task is now being outsourced to the training school.

As such, the school, like my school, has to prepare for the assessment. Some of the questions being raised are: ...
a. Assessment kits - what are the areas to be assessed and how.
b. Assessment plan - when to assess it.

The whole process remind me of the DCA oral exam under BCAR section L where the authority was responsible for the assessors and the assessment.

easa module 7

We are conducting easa module 7, as an approved part 147 school, we have to comply to the guidelines given.  This is my thought on how the course to be designed...



MODULE 7 PART 3 for B1 – COURSE DESIGN DOCUMENT

1 REQUIREMENTS

a.       AN 1201 6.1 (part 147 approved training organisation)

                                                               i.      The training shall cover the use of common tooling/equipments, the assembly and disassembly of aircraft parts relevant to module 7.

                                                             ii.      Assessments by approved assessors in compliance to DCAM in the use of common tools and equipments    as per MM, and situation awareness.

b.      AN 1101 appendix 1 Module 7 (part 66 of EASA)

                                                               i.      7.1 – precaution working with electricity. L3

                                                             ii.      Meter calibration L3

                                                            iii.      7.4 Avionic General Test Equipment –L2
Operation, Function and Usage.

                                                           iv.      7.5 Wiring diagram, and schematic diagram L2 – working knowledge of wiring diagram. 

                                                             v.      7.7 Electrical wiring interconnect (EWIS) L3

-           continuity, insulation and bonding techniques and test.

-           Use of crimping tools , hand operated and hydraulic.

-          Connector, pin removal and insertion, pin crimping

-          - Co-axial cable testing and installation

-           Identification of wires, inspection and damage tolerance

-           Wiring Protection Techniques, wire looming, support, protection, sleeving, heat shrink, wrapping shield.

-           wirings installation, inspection, and maintenance standard.

                                                           vi.      7.15 Soldering methods, inspection and test – L2

                                                          vii.      7.18 Trouble shooting technique L2

2  TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

a.       Measuring equipment

                                                               i.      Avometer  or   general electrical meter

                                                             ii.      Insulation Tester.

                                                            iii.      Bonding Tester

b.      Components and aircraft parts

                                                               i.      Aircraft wires. Single, twisted and co-axial.

                                                             ii.      Sleeve, terminal lugs preferred red (20 gauge)

                                                            iii.      Aircraft connectors, in set

                                                           iv.      Pins and sockets.

c.       Other tools

                                                               i.      Crimping tools for lugs and splices

                                                             ii.      Crimping tools for pins and sockets

                                                            iii.      Sample of aircraft wires.

                                                           iv.       Sample of wire tie

                                                             v.      Sample of wire wrap

3DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

a.       Wiring Diagram

b.      Course note – currently not available

c.       Practical guide – with validators certification – not available.

4 TIMING

a.       Currently 1 week is allotted. I will review, and most likely, we need to increase it to 2 weeks. 

5 MANPOWER

                                                               i.      An experience LAE or mechanic, however the CAA requirement is a licensed personnel or experienced instructor.

This are much more to be done in the easa module 7 design. The above is only a skeleton, the contents have to be created. 

Qualifying Programs for Aviation School

As we are getting a few new instructors, I have to come up with a program to qualify them.
Basically, I have to refer to the part 147 and part 66 requirements to draw the program. The other important input is the CAA standard document 46.

Elements	Description (linked to the ITC Course)	Experiences/Knowledge
		date	Describe (understand/ identify/ demonstrate)	certified
Part 1 General/ Managing Training	-AN1101 and 1201 -Basic of Bloom taxonomy of learning -APR processes -communication theory/barrier to communication.		-Basic understanding of cognitive/skill/affective domain -6 levels of cognitive -ATA 104 and Level  of skills as per AN -able to differentiate with descriptive words for different level.
Part 1 Presentation Skill	-  Adult Learning -Gagne's 9 general steps of instruction for learning		1-familiar with pedagogy and andragogy (Knowles).  2-Describe features of adult learning 3-Identify the principle of learning used by an instructor. 4-Utilise the andragogy and Gagnes principle.
Part 2 Module Development	-research process - Link to requirements AN/Industry - write module/APR formatting - pictures/ images -aware of copy right issues
Part 2 Presentation Material	-Develop powerpoint - Presentation Guide
Part 3 Questions And Test	-Kirkpatrick levels of assessment -formative assessment -Summative assessment -Open and close questions -elements of good multiple choice Questions		1-Attend the course on question development. 2-research/EASA Guide 3-Review 3 different real exams papers/students responds 4-Create 20 questions /assessed by senior instructors 5.Qualifying- Able to contrast the good/bad questions, and provide 2 examples each.
Others	To be defined.

The above are the initial thought of the qualifying program for our new trainers.
My target is 6 months..