The Next Airline Pilot - Competency at the Core: The Definitive Guide to Competency-Based Training for Pilots, Airlines and Flight Schools (Skywards)

How do you train a pilot for situations that cannot be trained for?

How do you prepare for the untrainable?

This groundbreaking book provides the answers.

The Next Airline Pilot - Competency at the Core is the ultimate guide to preparing pilots for the unexpected-and ensuring the continued safety of commercial aviation.

Veteran airline captain, instructor, and training manager Capt. André Berger takes readers inside the world of Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA), the global standard shaping the future of pilot training. Drawing on decades of experience, he shows how modern airline training goes beyond checklists and tasks to build real cockpit decision-making, resilience, and performance on the flight deck.

Inside, you'll discover:

✈ Why competencies-not tasks-define a great airline pilot.

✈ The principles of CBTA and immersive training, and why airlines worldwide are embracing them.

✈ How to train pilots for the unexpected, and why traditional flight training manuals and methods are no longer enough.

✈ The leadership insights every flight instructor, examiner, airline manager, and regulator needs to drive training excellence.

This is not just a book about pilot training. It is a practical, industry-defining guide for ab initio pilot training, airline operations, aviation safety, and aviation management.

If you care about the future of pilot training, this book is essential.

The Journey of André Berger started with advanced mathematics studies in the late seventies, followed by engineering, though he soon pivoted himself to pursue a career as a pilot. Pilot training in the early eighties was challenging, especially during a time when airlines in his country, Belgium at the time, were not hiring novice pilots. European pilot licenses were country-specific, EASA and standardization did not yet exist. The only large jet-operating airline he aspired to join was the national flag carrier, Sabena, but due to hiring freezes and the closure of the Civil Aviation School, he had to gain experience through diverse roles: ground handler, aircraft cleaner, mechanic, flight engineer, dispatcher, scheduler, banner-towing pilot, air taxi pilot, flight instructor, caterer, and even driving instructor, before finally being offered a first officer role on the B737-200 at Sabena.In the mid-nineties, he became Managing Director of the Belgian Aviation School and then joined Sobelair, the leisure airline within the Sabena Group, to resolve regulatory issues. As Crew Training Manager, he developed Belgium's first certified Type Rating Training Organization (TRTO) under emerging JAA and EASA standards.Over time, he took on responsibilities as Head of Flight Operations and Head of Training across TUI Airlines five AOCs, creating interoperability between AOC's, heading fuel efficiency and sustainability, renewing the training department, conducting numerous operational and training audits of airlines and training organizations in Europe, the USA, the Caribbean, Russia, and the Far East.As a Chief Flight Instructor and CEO/accountable manager for several Approved Training Organizations (ATOs), he introduced Immersive Training in Multi-Pilot License (MPL) programs, streamlining training by canceling traditional but less effective steps like single-engine instrument flying and multi-engine piston training.Recently, he implemented Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) across all type rating and ab initio pilot training courses, enhancing crew selection and training while accommodating modern airline requirements.Currently based in the Middle East with his family, André is actively involved in pilot training, flight operations, and exploring advanced technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence in aviation. His passion lies in shaping the future of crew training by employing innovative tools to enhance the learning experience and skills of the next generation of pilots and cabin crew.