**Executive Summary**
This document, Civil Aviation Requirements Series 'I' Part VII Issue II, effective October 1st, 2016, outlines the criteria for the approval of Ground Instructors. It specifies eligibility, training requirements, and the process for obtaining and renewing Ground Instructor approval. It also covers recurrent and refresher training requirements, and general requirements for who can serve as a Ground Instructor.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Applicability:** This document prescribes the requirements for the issuance of Ground Instructor approvals for personnel of Scheduled/Non-scheduled/ATOs, including conditions and limitations of these approvals.
* **Functions of a Ground Instructor:** Include providing initial and recurrent ground training in aeronautical knowledge areas for type ratings, flight dispatcher approval, and special operations approval, and training ground instructors.
* **Eligibility for Ground Instructor Approval:**
* Must be at least 21 years of age.
* Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
* Possess specific educational qualifications or experience as a qualified pilot/flight navigator/naval observer/flight engineer/flight dispatcher with 5+ years experience, or be a Ground/Flight Instructor from military/paramilitary forces, or be a DGCA Approved Instructor/SFI/TRI/Examiner/Designated Examiner.
* **Training Requirements for Approval:**
* Undergo modular ground training.
* Technical Instructor: Minimum 180 hours of technical training. Reduced training hours (90) for Instructor/SFI/TRI/Examiner/Designated Examiner.
* Performance Instructor: Minimum 360 hours of performance subjects training. Reduced training hours (180) for Instructor/SFI/TRI/Examiner/Designated Examiner.
* Special Operations: Prior approval as a technical or performance instructor plus appropriate modular training.
* Teaching and learning instruction (trainers course): Minimum 40 hours.
* Observe and conduct ground classes under supervision.
* Familiarization on aircraft/full flight simulator.
* Satisfactory internal assessment.
* **Approval Process:**
* Oral examination by a DGCA board.
* Recommendation from the employing operator/organization to FSD, DGCA.
* **Issue, Withdrawal, and Renewal of Approval:**
* Approval is issued for a period of 5 years.
* Renewal requires submission of a certificate of satisfactory performance and recurrent training records 3 months prior to expiry with specified fees.
* Initial approval fee is Rs 3000, renewal fee is Rs 1500.
* **Recurrent Training:**
* Annual recurrent training is required. Minimum duration is 24 hours.
* Extended recurrent training is required if no instructional duties are carried out for 12 to 36 months (minimum 32 hours).
* Complete re-approval training is required after 3 year break in duties.
* **Refresher Training:**
* Required for those not conducting duties for up to 6 months (minimum 2 days theoretical training).
* Recurrent training is required if the gap is between 6 to 12 months.
* **General Requirements:**
* No person shall serve as a Ground Instructor unless approved by the DGCA.
* DGCA may authorize a Ground Instructor approved by another Contracting State.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Ground Instructors (Current and Prospective)**
* **Impact:** Defined eligibility criteria, training requirements, and approval process determine who can become or remain a Ground Instructor. This affects their professional standing and ability to perform their duties.
* **Action Required:** Review requirements, complete necessary training, and follow the approval process to obtain or renew Ground Instructor approval. Maintain required recurrent/refresher training.
**Stakeholder: Operators/Approved Training Organizations (ATOs)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring that their Ground Instructors meet the specified criteria and maintain their competency. Impacts resource planning, training programs, and operational compliance.
* **Action Required:** Ensure that all employed Ground Instructors meet the requirements outlined in the document. Develop and implement training programs to meet initial, recurrent, and refresher training requirements. Recommend candidates for approval and submit necessary documentation for renewal. Do not allow those not approved by the DGCA or an accepted equivalent to work as ground instructors.
**Stakeholder: DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overseeing the implementation and enforcement of these requirements. This affects their workload related to approvals, oversight, and enforcement.
* **Action Required:** Implement the new criteria for Ground Instructor approval. Conduct oral examinations, issue and renew approvals, and monitor compliance. Potentially authorise ground instructors with foreign qualifications to serve as ground instructors.
Key Entities Referenced
Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR): A set of regulations issued by the DGCA concerning aviation safety, operations, and licensing.
Aircraft Rules 1937: A key piece of legislation that empowers the DGCA to establish criteria for aviation personnel, including ground instructors.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The primary regulatory body for civil aviation in India, responsible for approving ground instructors and enforcing aviation regulations.
Flight Standards Directorate (FSD): A division within the DGCA responsible for matters related to flight operations, licensing, and training, including ground instructor approvals.
ICAO Annex 1: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for personnel licensing.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION
TECHNICAL CENTRE, OPP SAFDURJUNG AIRPORT, NEW DELHI.
CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 7 – FLIGHT CREW STANDARDS
TRAINING & LICENCING
SERIES ‘I’ PART VII,
ISSUE II, DATED: _____________ EFFECTIVE: 01st OCT 2016
File No. AV 22024/12//2016
Subject: Criteria for approval of Ground Instructors
1. Introduction
ICAO Annex 1 and Annex 6 require demonstration of knowledge for
issue of type ratings in case of pilots, approval of flight dispatchers,
recurrent training of pilots and flight dispatchers. Ground instructors
carry out ground training in technical and performance subjects as part
of an approved training organization (ATO) or an operator’s approved
training programme. This part of the Civil Aviation Requirement is issued
under Rule 29C and 133A of the Aircraft Rules 1937 establishing criteria
for approval of ground instructors.
2. Applicability
This CAR prescribes the requirements for the issuance of Ground
Instructor’s approval for the personnel of Scheduled/Non-
scheduled/ATOs and the conditions under which those approvals are
necessary, and the limitations upon those approvals.
3. Functions Of Ground Instructor
a) To provide initial ground training in the aeronautical knowledge areas
required for the issuance of a type rating, flight dispatcher approval and
special operations approval.
b) To provide recurrent ground training in the aeronautical knowledge
areas required for recurrent training of pilots and flight dispatchers.CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS SECTION 7
SERIES ‘I’ PART VII ______________
c) To train ground instructors.
4. Eligibility
To be eligible for issuance of the Ground Instructor’s Approval, a
person:-
a) Shall be at least 21 years of age; and
b) Shall be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English
language; and
c) Shall have at least passed graduate examination with Physics and
Mathematics from a recognized Board/University or shall at least be an
engineering graduate in aeronautical/aerospace/mechanical /electrical/
electronics/communication/computers stream from a recognized
Board/University; or
d) Shall be a Qualified pilot/flight navigator/naval observer/flight
engineer/flight dispatcher/with minimum of five (05) years of relevant
experience shall also be eligible for ground instructor; or
e) Shall be a Ground Instructor / Flight Instructor from
military/paramilitary forces; or
f) Shall be a DGCA Approved Instructor/SFI/TRI/Examiner/Designated
Examiner.
Note: Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with relevant experience of
minimum 3 years in specialized fields such as meteorology, ATC,
legislation may be authorized by the post-holder training to conduct
ground training, with standards to be maintained under the quality
assurance system of the operator. Dangerous Goods training shall be
conducted by approved personnel under CAR Section 11 Series C Part
I. AVSEC training shall be conducted by BCAS approved personnel.
5. Training Requirements For Approval As Ground Instructor
On fulfilling the eligibility requirements specified in Para 4 above, the
trainee ground instructor shall undergo following training:-
5.1 Ground training.
Ground training shall consist of modular training. This may be carried
out with another ground instructor of the operator or ATO.
a) For approval as technical instructor, technical theoretical
knowledge instruction (technical training) comprising of minimum 180
hours training to include the revision of technical knowledge, preparation
2CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS SECTION 7
SERIES ‘I’ PART VII ______________
of lesson plans and the development of classroom instructional skills to
enable the Instructor to instruct technical theoretical knowledge syllabus.
For personnel holding an Instructor/SFI/TRI/Examiner/Designated
Examiner approval and current on type, this training shall be minimum
of 90 hours; or
b) For approval as performance instructors, performance subjects
training comprising minimum of 360 hours to include performance
engineering aspects of operations, preparation of lesson plans and
development of classroom instructional skills. For personnel holding an
Instructor/SFI/TRI/Examiner/Designated Examiner approval and current
on type, this training shall be minimum of 180 hours; and
c) For approval of special operations, an applicant shall need to
have prior approval as a technical or performance instructor, and
undergo appropriate modular training for EDTO, PBN, MNPS, Data link,
ADS, LVO, EFB etc.; and
d) Teaching and learning instruction (trainers course) comprising of
minimum 40 hours training to cover;
Learning process
Teaching process
Training philosophies
Techniques of applied instruction
Student evaluation and testing
Training programme development
Human performance and limitations
Training administration; and
5.2 Regular ground classes – observe and conduct ground classes under
supervision of a DGCA approved ground instructor for one full type
rating course each and one recurrent training course each; and
5.3 Familiarization of minimum 2 hours on aircraft/full flight Simulator for
performance instructor; aircraft/full flight simulator/fixed training device
for technical instructors; and
5.4 Undergo a satisfactory internal assessment by the organization with
written test by a DGCA approved Ground instructor.
5.5 On satisfactory completion of requirements specified above, the
operator/organization employing the candidate shall recommend the
name of candidate to FSD, DGCA. The recommendation shall be
enclosed with a certificate of completion of training requirements from
3CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS SECTION 7
SERIES ‘I’ PART VII ______________
the post-holder training.
6. Oral Examination
The applicant Ground Instructor shall be subjected to an oral
examination by a DGCA board in FSD consisting of two FOIs. Oral
examinations will be conducted separately for
technical/performance/special operations subjects.
7. Issue, Withdrawal, Renewal of Ground Instructor Approval
On successful completion of requirements as laid down in this CAR,
FSD, DGCA may issue a person ground instructor approval for a period
of 5 years. DGCA may withdraw this approval if the ground instructor
requirements are no longer met or the fails to meet standards on the
basis of which approval was issued. The operator shall ensure that
certificate by post-holder training indicating satisfactory performance of
the ground instructor for the previous 5 years along with recurrent
training records for the last 2 years are submitted to FSD at least 3
months prior to expiry of approval following which renewal of approval
may be issued by DGCA. Fees of Rs 3000 shall be payable for initial
approval and Rs 1500 for renewal of ground instructor approval.
8. Recurrent training
Recurrent training is conducted annually to ensure the maintenance of
competencies, knowledge and skills through a series of theoretical
training, hands-on exercises, written exam, etc. relevant to each aircraft
type on which the ground instructor will be imparting training.
Recurrent training validity is 12 months. If carried out in 3 months
preceding the expiry, the subsequent validity will be 12 months from the
original expiry. The minimum duration of recurrent training shall be 24
hours.
An operator shall ensure that each ground instructor who has not carried
out any ground instructional duties from 12 up to 36 months completes
extended recurrent training with minimum duration 32 hours. If there has
been a break from ground instructional duties for a period of 3 years,
complete training as per Para 5 above will be required for re-approval.
9. Refresher training
An operator shall ensure that each ground instructor who has not carried
out any ground instructional duties for up to 6 months and still remains
within the period of validity of the previous Initial/Recurrent Training
completes refresher training with minimum duration of 2 days theoretical
training. For a gap between 6 to 12 months, recurrent training will be
carried out.
4CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS SECTION 7
SERIES ‘I’ PART VII ______________
10. General Requirements
10.1 No operator/ATO shall use any person nor shall any person serve as a
Ground Instructor unless that person has been approved by the DGCA.
10.2 DGCA may also authorize for a specific period Ground Instructor of
equivalent status approved by any Contracting State to exercise
functions as Ground Instructor.
(M Sathiyavathy)
Director General of Civil Aviation
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