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| ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS | |
|---|---|
| Name | ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS |
| Caption | International Civil Aviation Organization training programme |
| Formed | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Montreal |
| Region served | Global |
| Parent organization | International Civil Aviation Organization |
ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS
The TRAINAIR PLUS programme is an International Civil Aviation Organization capacity-building initiative that standardizes aeronautical training through competency-based training and qualification of training centres. It links Montreal-based ICAO with national civil aviation authorities, regional air navigation service providers, airport operators such as Heathrow Airport, airframe manufacturers like Airbus, and maintenance organizations including Boeing subsidiaries to share training packages and best practices. The programme advances global safety management systems and harmonizes syllabi across ICAO Annexes and regulatory frameworks such as Chicago Convention obligations.
TRAINAIR PLUS is an ICAO-administered network integrating training centres that comply with competency-based training standards derived from ICAO Annex 1 personnel licensing principles, Annex 6 operations guidance, and Annex 19 safety management. The programme fosters cooperation among stakeholders including national authorities like the Federal Aviation Administration, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and Civil Aviation Administration of China to promulgate standardized Instructor qualifications and courseware. TRAINAIR PLUS supports global initiatives such as the No Country Left Behind programme and aligns with industry partners like IATA, IFALPA, and IFATCA for harmonized training delivery.
Originating from ICAO capacity-building efforts in the late 20th century, TRAINAIR PLUS formalized in 2006 to consolidate bilateral and regional training projects undertaken by entities such as UNDP and World Bank aviation components. Early contributors included national training academies like CAA-UK's International Aviation Academy, the UAE GCAA training centre, and military-civil programs associated with Royal Air Force training doctrine. The programme evolved through ICAO Assembly resolutions and collaborations with bodies such as EUROCONTROL, ASEAN aviation forums, and the African Civil Aviation Commission to scale competency-based training across continents including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
TRAINAIR PLUS comprises several elements: ICAO-approved Training Package templates, a network of Qualified Training Centres (QTCs), and an audit and accreditation mechanism. Components mirror ICAO standards found in the Chicago Convention framework and involve subject matter inputs from organizations like IATA Training and Development and manufacturers including Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney. Core modules encompass areas reflected in ICAO Annexes: flight operations, air traffic services, aerodrome operations, and aircraft maintenance, with technical contributors from institutions such as MIT aviation research, Cranfield University, and national academies including ENAC and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Development of Training Packages follows a standardized design model employing competency-based instructional systems design influenced by Bloom's taxonomy and ADDIE model methodologies. Subject matter experts from entities such as FAA Academy, Transport Canada training, and regional bodies like LATAM Airlines training departments contribute to syllabi, learning objectives, and assessment strategies. Accreditation requires demonstration of facilities, qualified instructors, and quality management comparable to standards used by ISO and auditors from organizations like QA Systems International. Accreditation decisions involve ICAO panels and peer review by QTCs including national institutes like DGCA India training centres and ANAC Brazil academies.
Membership includes national administrations, university-affiliated academies, airline training departments, and independent training organisations. Notable network members have included Singapore Aviation Academy, Qatar Aeronautical College, Kenya School of Flying, Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, and Mexico City International Airport training units. Strategic partners encompass IATA, ACI, EUROCONTROL, and manufacturers such as Bombardier and Leonardo. Regional training hubs coordinate with multilateral entities like the Caribbean Community aviation committee and the Pacific Aviation Safety Office to extend reach into small island states and landlocked countries.
Quality assurance is enforced through periodic audits, continuous monitoring, and re-accreditation cycles using criteria aligned with ICAO provisions and similar to ISO 9001 quality benchmarks. Audit teams draw experts from QTCs, national regulators, and specialist consultants with backgrounds at FAA, EASA, and university research centres like Imperial College London. Nonconformities are tracked, corrective action plans mandated, and improvements verified through follow-up assessments referencing safety data from sources such as ICAO Safety Oversight Audit Programme and regional safety teams like USOAP.
TRAINAIR PLUS has increased interoperability of training, contributed to reductions in training duplication among partners like Air France and Lufthansa group programs, and supported workforce development in states including Bangladesh and Ethiopia. Critics argue the programme can favor well-resourced institutions, citing disparities between advanced centres like United Airlines Training Center and underfunded national schools such as some Pacific and African academies. Concerns have also been raised about reliance on proprietary materials from manufacturers including Honeywell and potential misalignment with localized operational contexts such as mountainous operations in Nepal or polar operations near Iqaluit.
Category:Aviation training