VOLUME 3  GENERAL TECHNICAL ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 19  TRAINING PROGRAMS AND AIRMAN QUALIFICATIONS

Section 8  Safety Assurance System: Special Training

3-1301    GENERAL. This section contains direction and guidance to be used by principal operations inspectors (POI) for the evaluation of an operator’s special training for approval. To conduct such an evaluation, POIs should be aware of the following distinction between basic training and special training. This section is related to Safety Assurance System (SAS) Subsystem 2.1, Training & Qualification.

A.    Basic Training. The six training categories defined in Volume 3, Chapter 19, Section 1, paragraph 3‑1075, Categories of Training, contain the basic training required for flightcrew members for qualification in a specific duty position on a specified aircraft type. Training in the operations and procedures necessary to operate in the standard service volume to standard minimums is an integral part of these curricula. This basic training must be conducted by all operators. Training methods and events are specified either in regulations or advisory circulars (AC) and are well understood in the air transportation industry.

B.    Special Training. “Special” training is training conducted by an operator to qualify flightcrew members beyond the scope of basic training. Each operator is required to conduct only the special training required for the operator’s specific operations. Special training elements and events can be integrated into one or more of the six defined training categories or conducted as a separate curriculum segment(s). Special training is normally required for operations that require specific authorization by the operator’s operations specifications (OpSpecs), such as the following:

·    Class II navigation,

·    Category II (CAT II) and Category III (CAT III) approaches,

·    Lower‑than‑standard minimums takeoffs,

·    Extended‑range operations with two‑engine airplanes,

·    Use of an autopilot instead of a second in command (SIC), and

·    Airborne radar approaches.

3-1302    SPECIAL TRAINING CONTENT. When evaluating an operator’s training program, POIs must ensure that the operator’s special training contains the necessary and appropriate elements and events. Since operators may develop special training to accomplish almost any objective, the curriculum content is a result of the specific objective and should be no more or less than what is required to achieve the objective. Generally, POIs should ensure that an operator’s special training has been developed from a clearly stated objective, a task analysis, and specified performance standards. Special training must be designed to develop each flightcrew member’s knowledge, skill, and judgment in the performance of the stated tasks. Special training must contain qualification criteria for the assessment of each flightcrew member’s ability to perform identified tasks to the specified standard. Special training may also be required to be conducted on a recurring basis.

3-1303    SPECIAL TRAINING APPROVAL. POIs should follow the five‑step process described in Volume 3, Chapter 19, Section 2, for the approval of special training. The POI should evaluate an operator’s initial curriculum outline to ensure that it includes appropriate segments, modules, elements, and events. ACs about the various special operations can also be aids to the POI in defining training requirements for those operations (see Table 3‑84, List of Applicable Advisory Circulars, for a partial listing of these ACs). The POI should evaluate the initial curriculum outline using both the applicable ACs and this order. The POI may grant initial approval when the operator’s outline is in compliance with such guidance. When such direction and guidance do not exist, the POI must have the operator perform a task analysis to identify the required tasks and appropriate performance standards for the special training. The task analysis and performance standards should be submitted by the operator as supporting documentation along with the initial curriculum outline. The POI must evaluate the supporting documentation in conjunction with the outline before granting initial approval. When the operator proposes a new or unique type of training, the Air Transportation Division (AFS‑200) shall be informed for evaluation purposes through the regional Flight Standards division (RFSD).

Table 3‑84.  List of Applicable Advisory Circulars

3-1304    SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS OF SPECIAL TRAINING. POIs should know of several common situations in which special training is required. Some examples of specific applications of special training follow.

A.    Flag Operations. In flag operations, it is a requirement that flightcrew members possess knowledge of those procedures and OpSpecs applicable to these operations. For Class II navigation, it may be required for flightcrew members to have knowledge of specialized navigation procedures (such as North Atlantic High Level Airspace (NAT HLA)) and equipment (such as inertial navigation system (INS)). POIs should ensure that in flag operations, flightcrew members are required to have supervised practice and to demonstrate their competence in these operations before performing them without supervision (see Volume 4, Chapter 1).

B.    CAT II and CAT III Approaches. For training in CAT II and CAT III approaches, POIs must ensure that the required training includes special equipment, procedures, practice, and a demonstration of competency. While some operators have successfully integrated this training into the six defined categories of training, others have conducted this training as a separate curriculum segment. POIs may approve either method of organization (see Volume 4, Chapter 2).

C.    Lower‑Than‑Standard Minimum Takeoffs. Before pilots may conduct takeoffs with lower‑than‑standard minimums in revenue service, they must be given training and practice in, and have successfully demonstrated competence in, performing takeoffs in minimum authorized visibility conditions. POIs must ensure that training is given in: runway and lighting requirements; rejected takeoffs at, or near, takeoff decision speed (V₁) with a failure of the most critical engine; taxi operations; and procedures to prevent runway incursions under low visibility conditions. This training must be conducted in a full flight simulator (FFS) (see Volume 4, Chapter 2, Section 4).

D.    Autopilot in Lieu of SIC. Pursuant to the applicable regulations, pilots conducting Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 135 operations may be authorized to conduct instrument flight rules (IFR) operations without an SIC, provided they have completed special training for qualification in such operations. In accordance with part 135, § 135.297(g), a pilot qualifying for single‑pilot IFR operations must demonstrate the ability to safely conduct IFR flight without an SIC during the required instrument proficiency check (IPC). The pilot must demonstrate that he or she can operate the airplane as proficiently as if an SIC were present to conduct the air traffic control (ATC) communications. Specifically, the pilot must demonstrate, both with and without, using the autopilot the ability to:

1)    Conduct instrument operations;

2)    Properly conduct communications with ATC; and

3)    Comply with complex ATC instructions.

RESERVED. Paragraphs 3‑1305 through 3‑1310.