Affordable Training for MAO members in a Caribbean Paradise

For airport operations, management, or first responder there now is an affordable opportunity for you to acquire the technical skills and academic knowledge you need to succeed in your respective field. 

Come learn and play or just relax after class on the shores of crystal blue waters in a balmy Caribbean paradise, on the island of Barbados.

The Barbados Civil Aviation Training Centre (BCATC) in partnership with Spranza LLC and the Barbados Civil Aviation Department have joined together to offer aviation professionals a truly unique learning experience. Developed to assist in ensuring airport and airline compliance with both their respective National and International standards, the Center offers participants a wide array of instruction in cost-effective and convenient modular in-residence classes and on-line interactive distance learning along with onsite client assistance through their consultancy service.

History

The BCATC provides training for local ATC personnel as well as ATC personnel from a number of States in the region. Training is also provided to other airport agencies such as, Fire Service and Security in subject areas pertaining to Telecommunications and Airside Safety Awareness among others. Over two hundred persons pass through this training institution yearly. The Training Centre previously used a Manual 3D Aerodrome Control (ADC) Simulator but is now equipped with a new ADC Virtual Realty Simulator. There is a state-of-the-art Radar Simulator, two classrooms and Relevant Training Aids. In addition, it is fully equipped with Printing and Copying facilities and the appropriate software and technical maintenance personnel.

In 1999 Barbados took a decision to enhance this training institution by seeking to join the ICAO TRAINAIR Programme. Approval was given and in 2002, an ICAO TRAINAIR expert was assigned to Barbados to assist in the qualification process. On the 12th of January 2005 the Barbados Civil Aviation Training Centre became an accredited member of the ICAO TRAINAIR Programme.

BCATC Center Activities for 2012

Designed for airport, airline, CAA and service provider personnel, the 2012 instructional program – consisting of 12 topical modules and six workshops, is complemented with a number of online learning opportunities and webcast special events.  Among the interactive web events scheduled for September - a full scale Airport Emergency Exercise will be broadcast in real time from Grantley Adams airport in Bridgetown, Barbados. In-residence programs will be conducted at the Barbados Civil Aviation Training Center (An accredited Trainair Center) in Christ Church, Barbados, with several instructional modules also available to those who cannot attend in person, via our ‘virtual classroom’ portal on the World Wide Web.
The Center offers airport and airline professionals continuing education programs drawn from Spranza developed classes appearing in the ICAO Training Directory.  Students participate in intense programs of Competency Based Training in the areas of: aviation security, safety management, emergency response, aircraft accident/incident investigation, operations and management. 
Coming up this Quarter
 A complete calendar of courses and workshops can be found on the website at: http://bcatc.avsec-center.org. 
Just for MAO Members
All MAO members are eligible to receive a 10% tuition discount on all BCATC/Spranza in-service training programs, webcasts or interactive distance learning modules.  Please ensure to note your membership on the Registration Form to claim your discount.
Bring the family
Students are encouraged to bring their families and enjoy the history, culture, fine dining and just plain fun of this tropical paradise.  On arrival, each Registrant receives a Welcome Packet containing valuable discounts on local attractions, dining and leisure time activities. To learn more visit: http://www.broadcastbarbados.com/ and select your adventure.

“With more than a dozen Certificate courses, six participatory workshops, a number of special event webcasts and interactive e-programs to choose from , we are certain aviation professionals will find the right program to suit their 2012 training needs.” Francis Spranza, president, Spranza, LLC.

My Airport Operations

Just wanted to share this with everyone. 

By Betsy Hudson
    If you are one of over 400 million people who have a profile on Facebook, you will understand my excitement when I stumbled upon a new website "created by airport operators for airport operators" - My Airport Operations.
    After recently being introduced to Facebook by my teenage boys, I created a profile and suddenly I am overwhelmed with friends! Many are from my high school graduating class of '85! OMG! I enjoyed catching up with old friends and sharing real life stories on Facebook, so when I found this professional networking group focused on airports, I had to join.
    My Airport Operations is a place where you will discover a wealth of information at your fingertips through the online community. It is a convenient way to find assistance with compliance and maintenance issues, share ideas, training, concerns, or just boast about your airport. The purpose of the MAO online community is for members to assist each other with operations issues by exchanging experiences and knowledge. Essentially, it's Facebook designed for aviation professionals.
    So, whether if you are looking to network, share ideas, find solutions, seek training, etc., you can find it online at www.myairportoperations.com. My handle is BHudson - be sure to network with me!

Non Movement Driving Training

During my annual FAA certification inspection, the subject of Non Movement Driving Training came up. This training will include ANYONE that has access to a ramp, parking lots or any area inside your fence. Here in Hot Springs that will add an additional 300 people that will require the driver training. This will include the owner of the aircraft, all vendors who make deliveries, all employees that duties do not require them to drive in the movement area. I understand the reason; these people have the POTENTIAL of accessing movement areas unrestricted.  My concern is how many airport could comply with this?
With the threat of losing EAS funding looming in congress and a constant increase of part 139 requirements how many small airports will give up their certificates? I know 3 airports in Arkansas that gave back their certificates because of the increased requirements and loss of airlines. These airports have not decreased their aircraft traffic but they are no longer inspected under part 139. So are they safer? Have they stopped conducting daily inspections, training, or safety improvements? I ask, with the FAA increasing the requirements for part 139 in the name of safety are they really just pushing the smaller airports away?



The following is a list of Best Practices, I found on the FAA website. At a non towered airport how and will you comply with these "suggestions" and how will you enforce them when they are a requirement?

Best Practices for
Runway Incursion Prevention

The following Best Practices have been identified to provide an overview of programs and procedures that have proven effective in preventing runway incursions, and which can be adapted for use at other airports. These practices can assist air traffic controllers and airport mangers in their efforts to eliminate or reduce the risk of runway incursions.

Best practices for air traffic control (ATC) personnel:

• Minimize the frequency of runway crossings by aircraft and vehicles where possible.
• Reduce non-standard phraseology; standardize and simplify internal coordination.
• Issue taxi instructions slowly and clearly. This will result in more accurate hear-back/read-back, eliminate expectation bias, and reduce confusion.
• Issue instructions in a procedure referred to as “chunking.” Controllers define this as breaking long and complicated taxi instruction into short, easy-to- understand phrases. Chunking also alleviates the comprehension difficult that may be experienced by foreign air crews.
• Establish standard taxi routes to reduce confusion and reinforce a routine flow of traffic. Local pilots know what to expect. A pilot familiar with the standard taxi routes who hears full route may be primed to listen more closely to taxi instructions.
• Develop standard practices for coordination of unplanned runway closures, and incorporate these practices into existing agreements.
• ATCT managers should regularly participate in airport construction and planning activities. Establish a consistent liaison representative throughout programmed activities to ensure continuity of operations.
• Seek site-specific visual memory aids to act as runway occupancy reminders for local and ground control. These may take the form of strip bay headers, supplemental strip marking, opposite direction reminders, line up and wait new phraseology and visual/aural alarms.
• Maintain a cooperative team environment with a high level of operational integrity, and consider adopting the sterile cockpit practice used by aircrews.
• Work with the airport operator to develop and maintain a “ride along” program for new and newly certified employees. This practice can help new employees become more familiar with the airport from ground level.
• Tower cab simulator. Training selects beneficial learning from operational errors and deviations and then recreates the incident in the tower cab simulator which allows crews to work on group performance and share lessons learned in a safe and controlled environment.

Best practices for airport operators:

•  At general aviation airports, use enhanced marking and additional signage as recommended in the 150 series Advisory Circulars to draw attention to parts of the airport where traffic can create a safety hazard.
• Modify airport geometry to reduce runway crossings and, if necessary, reconfigure airport geometry to eliminate taxiway choke points that confuse pilots and vehicle operators.
• Develop standard practices for coordination of unplanned runway closures. Incorporate these practices into existing agreements.
• Maintain an electronic forum for pilots to receive the latest airport safety-related information and as a means for them to provide direct feedback to the airport operator. Equip airport vehicles with transponders and GPS units.
• Have a two-tier vehicle operator training program, with one for the movement area and the other for the non-movement area. Require all users to make a request through the airport manager to access taxiway and airport areas. This  aids in reducing the number of people who have access to the movement area.
• When training vehicle drivers, supplement classroom and practical training with simulation where possible.
• Consider developing an airport-specific pre-departure presentation for an FBO and make it available to all pilots prior to departing. One location uses an animated PowerPoint presentation on a computer located in the pilot  briefing room. This short (five-minute) presentation outlines past runway incursions with the ATC voice recording. The team noted it as a best practice for extra safety awareness in the prevention of runway incursions.