FITS Approved Program Provides Scenario-Based Training
Quest Aircraft tells ANN four pilots have completed the Initial
Training Course for the Kodiak since the company received
FAA/Industry Training Standard (FITS) approval for its program
earlier this year. Quest designed its own training program after
reviewing other approved programs and with input from experienced
industry professionals.
"We looked at several options for providing initial training for
the Kodiak, and concluded that it made the most sense to do it
ourselves," said Paul Schaller, Quest President and CEO. "We also
saw it as an opportunity to build a closer relationship with our
customers as well as get timely feedback on the Kodiak for future
improvements. In designing the program, we felt it was important to
be in compliance with the FITS tenets."
FITS was developed in 2004 as part of the FAA's Safer Skies
Initiative to better train pilots flying Technologically Advanced
Aircraft (TAA) with glass cockpits. The Kodiak's flight deck
features the Garmin three-panel G1000 system with two primary
flight displays (PFDs) flanking a centrally located multi-function
display (MFD).
"The new technology provides pilots with so much more
information than ever before," said Steve Zaat, Quest's Director of
Customer Service. "Training pilots following the FITS course
helps them gain the experience necessary to utilize that
information more effectively and safely." Zaat serves as Training
Manager, overseeing the Quest Learning Center.
The Kodiak Initial Training Course is designed for the pilot who
has no previous operational experience as pilot-in-command in the
Kodiak. In keeping with FITS methodology, the training is
scenario-based as opposed to maneuvers-based. "The training uses
the same tasks as a traditional maneuvers-based program, but
arranges maneuvers into scenarios that mimic real situations," Zaat
continued. "The goal of each flight is to get to the destination
safely, rather than the completion of individual training
maneuvers. This way, the pilot correlates the importance of
individual training maneuvers to the overall safe accomplishment of
the mission." This is known as a systems-safety approach. Customer
feedback has been very positive with one pilot commenting that the
course was "very challenging."
"We developed a solid program in a relatively short period of
time," added Zaat. "I'd like to acknowledge two industry
professionals who helped us develop not only a FITS training
program, but one that fits our customer base very well." The Kodiak
initial training program is the first approved program that
includes mission scenarios into unimproved landing areas.
Arlynn McMahon, Training Center Manger at Aero-Tech, Inc.,
Lexington, KY and Mike Gaffney of Skyline Aeronautics,
Chesterfield, MO worked closely with Quest to develop the
curriculum and validate the training scenarios. McMahon has
authored several FAA accepted programs and has published a book on
FITS. Gaffney was the FAA Instructor Pilot of the Year in 2007 and
is the author of G1000 training materials.