Crew, Logs and Records — Page 102, Lesson 162

I want to walk you through the training and checking requirements that apply to flight crew members. This is a new topic, so let's start from the ground up. First, we have Emergency and Safety Equipment Training and Checking. Every flight crew member must undergo training and a check on the location and use of all emergency and safety equipment carried on the aeroplane. The check period is 12 months, and importantly, that 12-month period is dated from the last day of the month of issue. So if you completed your check on 15 March, the clock starts ticking from 31 March. The "3 month rule" applies here — that's a standard regulatory provision that allows you to complete a check up to three months before or after the due date without losing continuity, but I'll explain that in more detail when we encounter it in context. The training and the checking can be combined into a single event, and it must be conducted either in an aeroplane or in a suitable alternative training device — a simulator or a mock-up that accurately represents the aircraft. Now, the content of this training is split into two cycles. Every year, the training programme must cover six items: donning of a life jacket; donning of protective breathing equipment; handling of fire extinguishers; the location and use of all emergency and safety equipment on the aeroplane; instruction on the location and use of all types of exits; and security procedures. Then, every three years, the training must go deeper and cover six additional items: operation of all types of exits; demonstration of the method of using a slide; actual fire fighting on an actual or simulated fire; actual handling of pyrotechnics — real or simulated; demonstration of the use of a life raft; and the effects of smoke in an enclosed environment, along with use of relevant equipment in a simulated smoke-filled environment. Next, we have Crew Resource Management (CRM) Training. The operator must ensure that elements of CRM are integrated into all appropriate phases of recurrent training. Additionally, each flight crew member must undergo specific modular CRM training. All major CRM topics must be covered over a period not exceeding 3 years — so the operator has a three-year cycle to ensure every major CRM topic is addressed. Finally, we have Ground and Refresher Training. The operator must ensure that each flight crew member undergoes Ground and Refresher training at least every 12 months. Again, the 3 month rule applies. This training must be verified by a questionnaire or other means, and it must include: aeroplane systems; operational procedures and requirements — including ground de/anti-icing and pilot incapacitation; and an accident and incident occurrence review. So to summarise: you have annual emergency equipment checks, a three-year deep cycle for hands-on emergency training, a three-year CRM cycle, and annual ground refresher training covering systems, procedures, and accident review. All of these are mandatory requirements that the operator must schedule and document for every flight crew member.