TRAINING Trainers perspectives on bringing pilots back to work At easyJet By Steve Berg, Training Liaison rep, easyJet Company Council As sim trainers, many of us have been shielded from the greatest hardships others have faced during the COVID-19 restrictions. We have remained busy ensuring people stay current or running return-to-work programmes. It has meant a far more varied training programme and the chance to fly with many people with whom we normally dont get the opportunity. With so many people having such an extended period away from an aircraft, anxiety levels have increased and that has been evident with many of the trainees who have come back to the sim. The golden hello has never been so important. Taking the time to try to understand where a pilots head is at can make such a difference in the effectiveness of the training we are able to offer. With so many different stories of what people have been up to while away from their normal day job, there is always something to talk about. Many crews have started sim sessions fearing they may be way off the mark, only to surprise themselves when they realise the skill sets they had before they were stood down are still there. COVID-19 has dramatically changed the agenda in sim training profiles. While we have still had to complete the required recurrent training programmes, we have had the opportunity to run far more details focused on training ahead of assessing and have had the ability to adjust the content of the sim sessions to best suit the pilots on the day. As an instructor first, examiner second, having the freedom to adapt sessions creates variety and reward in equal measure. Sim sessions have been adjusted to suit the pilots on the day On the line Line training has been different too. For years, we have spent most of our time flying with new cadets or new commanders as part of their respective training courses within the company. Normally, we dont get to fly with line pilots very often. This season, its been the complete opposite. All our line training has been with existing company pilots, which has meant, for some, great days out catching up with old friends. Its been a privilege to have shared so many first flight back moments with colleagues I have worked with for many years. While the social contact has been very welcome, much of our support as trainers is about reassuring crews that its ok to take time when they need to, as the normal distractions during a turnaround have no regard for how long people have been away from the cockpit. The challenges that COVID-19 has created and the time away from work have meant all our pilots have seen far more of a simulator in the past 24 months than they would normally. For some, the sim was as close as they got to a real aeroplane for many months. This has given the opportunity to create a real partnership between line pilots and recurrent training. I very much hope that our pilots feel the training team has served them well over the past two years. Airlines are gradually easing their staff back in What we have learnt before, we can learn again and possibly become better than we were before the pandemic clipped our wings At Ryanair By a line check captain (name supplied) Its probably fair to say that the pandemic has affected the wider pilot community more than here at Ryanair. Our pilots have been flying relatively continuously, albeit sporadically at times, throughout the crisis. Maintenance circuit flights in the early days of the pandemic meant crews were able to get their hands on the aircraft itself and keep current, flying quick circuit patterns, sometimes taking up four different aircraft a day at some bases. Furthermore, simulator sessions were arranged to keep the entire pilot workforce current and, more importantly, competent in readiness for the uptake in business. Now were back flying a more normal schedule, its difficult to pinpoint any specific weak areas that stand out. From my experience as a check captain, the standards across the board are still very high, despite the lull in flying over the past few years. Ryanairs statistics tell a similar story, with only minor paperwork discrepancies flagging up in recent audit findings, but I dont feel there are any long-lasting negative effects from the pandemic showing on the line. Flying isnt natural; what we have learnt before, we can learn again and possibly become better than we were before the pandemic clipped our wings.