Highlights:
- BAA Training is one of the first European aviation training providers to start Ab Initio pilot training with integrated Area 100 KSA.
- BAA Training launches the first group under a revised ATPL program with Area 100 KSA included already in February 2021.
- Integration of Area 100 KSA concept is mandatory, and ATOs must comply with this EASA provision by January 31, 2022.
BAA Training is one of the first aviation training centers in Europe to start Ab Initio pilot training with integrated Area 100 KSA.
The acronym stands for „Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes“ and represents a philosophy in initial pilot training focusing on competency-based training and assessment (CBTA) instead of factual knowledge training. While gaining particular importance in the aviation field, this paradigm allows students to develop appropriate ICAO core competencies during the ground training and apply theoretical knowledge through practical exercises.
Egle Vaitkeviciute, CEO at BAA Training, says: „Despite the challenges posed by the virus, BAA Training has strategically reinforced focus on quality to embrace competency-based training and assessment approach and has done so one of the first in Europe. We have set up our own in-house enhanced training scheme under Area 100 KSA for student pilots. From day one at ground school, they will be getting intense and coherent preparation for their future work at an airline. An ability to quickly apply relevant skills and competencies is vital for different situations, including emergencies, to avoid critical mistakes during the flight.“
The first ATPL group with Area 100 KSA embedded into the training begins in February 2021. Other Ab Initio programs available at BAA Training – CPL and MPL – will also encompass the new approach in the nearest future.
The benefit of Area 100 KSA
Airlines will be choosing from the pool of licenced pilots who possess and demonstrate vital competencies, such as communication, leadership and teamwork, problem-solving, decision-making, situation awareness, workload management and application of knowledge.
Pilots will receive relevant and useful courses that meet industry needs and utilize best practices, improving their credibility to get employed by leading airlines. Their knowledge will come from understanding but not rote learning.
Finally, the ATO, which timely embodies the Area 100 KSA concept, proves its ability to adapt quickly to the changing industry trends and train the instructors with no issues.
Arunas Miezanskas, Head of Training at BAA Training, comments: „As an ATO, we have committed to mastering the new training approach. Our instructors with years of experience in the aviation field are fully prepared and certified to execute Area 100 KSA. They will be guiding, monitoring, and evaluating students against the core ICAO competencies throughout the whole theoretical knowledge training system, starting from their day one at ground school.“
The streamlined learning process
BAA Training will holistically integrate Area 100 KSA into the entire training syllabus. A particular emphasis will be on training through real-world situations, dealing with emergency events, stimulating resilience, and more. The rational and consistent CBTA will allow students to develop higher cognitive skill levels and pilot core competencies.
The training structure will meet EASA requirements and include one formative assessment, two summative ones, and a mental math test. Instructors will also duly brief students about Area 100 KSA background in an introductory course.
During the assessments, the preference will be given to group exercises as collaborative and interactive activities facilitate disclosure of the core competencies. The mental math test will include calculations and estimations during which the use of any tools, such as calculators or rulers, will be prohibited.
All BAA Training Ab Initio students will be affected by the significant change and get introduced to Area 100 KSA in due course.
Area 100 KSA background
The need for modernized aviation discipline training has arisen over safety concerns as multiple statistics show over 70% of commercial aircraft accidents happen due to pilot error.
EASA observes: “Current teaching and learning tools are not sufficiently developed to encourage future pilots to use analytic and synthetic thinking or to challenge student pilots to enhance their decision-making skills, their problem-solving ability, and their level of understanding of assimilated knowledge.”
Responding to the alarming statistics, EASA has mandated ATOs to reorganize their initial pilot training system and include the KSA philosophy consolidating knowledge, skills, and understanding through scenario-based learning by January 31, 2022.
