Dragonair is shaking up old training methods and bringing in fresh concepts for safer flying as it hailed the first pilots to graduate from its new testing regime.
The 12 pilots were the first in Hong Kong to be issued multi-crew pilot's licences (MPL), paving the way for an overhaul of well-worn training practices.
The MPL programme requires its trainees to fly in a co-pilot role right from the start, involving them in the decision-making processes of a fully qualified commercial pilot.
It differs from conventional training methods in which trainees start out flying small planes to accumulate hours before graduating to operate larger, and eventually, commercial aircraft.
In contrast to trainee pilots under existing methods, new MPL cadets also spend more time flying in a simulator than in the air during the early stages of training.
Peter Sanderson, Dragonair's general manager of operations, explained that the airline wanted to bring in new, internationally recognised training methods. Existing ones had not changed for at least 60 years, he said.
Sanderson cited the level of accidents under conventional training methods as a motivating factor to try something different.
