Feb 2013

In this article, published in the Feb 2013 Issue of Aircraft IT, Capt Mark Linney provides an overview of Alternative Training Qualification Programmes or ATQP as they are better known. It includes a description of what ATQP is, who’s doing it, the potential benefits, how to go about and finally a case study from Flybe.

View ATQP article

November 2012

Evoke Systems will again be exhibiting at the 6th Annual Flight Operations Conference at Heathrow Airport (Park Inn Hotel) on 28th – 29th November 2012. On show will be the latest versions of the company’s iPad, iPhone and web-based software.

During the event Mark Linney (co-founder of Evoke Systems) & Steve Deverall (acting head of crew training at Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline) will jointly present a paper summarising the benefits of ATQP [Alternative Training and Qualification Programme]. The presentation will cover how ATQP can positively impact on safety whilst improving the quality and relevance of flight crew training. Mark & Steve will lead a discussion on how the scheme can improve the relationship between flight crew and managers as well discussing how ATQP can save money.

October 2012

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, selected EFOS from Evoke Systems Ltd to provide electronic crew training records in a strategic move away from paper based records.

Maintaining paper training records for 700 pilots and 900 cabin crew geographically dispersed over the UK had become manually intensive, cumbersome and a potentially error prone process for Flybe. Confirmation of training and check statuses under a complex regulatory regime was a continuous challenge. It was clear that the adoption of electronic training records was essential to Flybe’s growth plans. The selection and introduction of EFOS has delivered not only an immediate and huge potential cost saving but also a significant improvement in the efficiency of the training process.

Steve Deverall, acting head of crew training at Flybe comments that, “EFOS has significantly reduced the burden of paper while speeding up and improving our training processes. Also, by blending training feedback, actual experience and regulatory compliance, EFOS has certainly met the needs of our ATQP [Alternative Training and Qualification Programme] for flexibility in pilots’ simulator training.”

The installation of EFOS, starting in May 2012, has already delivered positive returns. With the continued and planned expansion at Flybe the training administration task can now be fulfilled without the need for additional staff. Flybe has also enjoyed very positive feedback from users; Steve Deverall again; “People don’t usually like change but EFOS has been very well received from the start.”

July 2012

Following a substantial project to transition all of DHL’s paper training records to electronic records within EFOS, the CAA has now approved them as the sole source for training records. One of the main benefits of using structured electronic training records is the ability to analyse the training data to identify areas requiring attention. The data can also be used as part of a continuous improvement process for both the trainers and crew.

June 2012

Volotea is a Spanish low cost airline operating a fleet of B717s to destinations across southern Europe. Volotea are using EFOS as their main crew portal to provide access to operating manuals, notices, safety reporting, crew expenses and electronic training records. EFOS also provides a single sign on service into Volotea’s other operational systems such as flight planning and rostering.

Using EFOS has allowed Volotea to effectively communicate and distribute information to a widely dispersed crew.

November 2011

Evoke Systems exhibited at the 5th Annual Flight Operations Conference at London Heathrow Airport. The company was able to demonstrate their newly launched cloud-based safety management system and training records modules. Evoke Systems were also able to show enhancements to their electronic journey log which now includes “one-button” EU ETS reporting.

As part of the conference agenda Mark Linney (co-founder of Evoke Systems) gave a presentation covering the project basics and pit-falls of implementing an EFB system.

August 2011

Monarch Airlines has launched a Class II Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) demonstration trial. The demonstration consists of the Goodrich Class II Smart Display and a suite of applications including Evoke System’s EFOS Class 2 Reporting Module. If the trial is successful, the system will be deployed across the Airline’s entire Airbus fleet early next year, with Monarch becoming the first UK mainstream airline with a Class II EFB.

June 2011

The month of June has seen the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) carry out its annual audit of flydubai’s Crew Training programme to ensure it complies with the GCAA’s Civil Aviation Regulations. During the assessment, the Government auditors found flydubai to be fully compliant and gave positive feedback on the EFOS system. flydubai use Evoke System’s EFOS Training Module to manage all their Crew Training and have now completed over 19,000 training records since the training programme began in early 2009.