Etihad to use iPad for aircraft training

Etihad Airways said it is one of the first airlines in the world to roll out aircraft-type training courses using tablet technology. The airline is training its 200 licensed aircraft engineers with an iPad app developed by SR Technics. Eleven Etihad Airways licensed aircraft engineers took part in an initial trial, which focused on type training for the airline’s fleet of 11 Airbus A340 aircraft. Now, Etihad Airways is using aircraft type training course tablet technology for its complete range of technical type training. Only licensed engineers who have successfully completed a recognised aircraft-type training course are authorised to certify maintenance work carried out on a particular type of aircraft. SR Technics, part of the Mubadala Aerospace Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Network, is one of the first companies in the world to introduce tablet technology into aircraft type training courses, the aim of which is to replace traditional training manuals and enhance the training experience. Etihad Airways Senior Vice President Technical, Werner Rothenbaecher, said: “We have found that using such technology allows for more efficient and effective training, and one of the major benefits of the iPad is that additional supporting materials may now be included in the interactive manuals such as images, videos, cockpit voice recordings and incidents reports. “This offers real added-value to our aircraft engineers, by providing a richer learning experience from a single delivery point,” he said. Group CEO of the Mubadala Aerospace MRO network, James Stewart, said: “We are very pleased to partner with Etihad Airways for the introduction and further development of our new iPad training. As the first airline to train their employees with this technology, Etihad Airways has provided very useful feedback to SR Technics. “The airline’s commitment to the project demonstrates that Etihad Airways places the highest value on providing the best training to its engineers – in terms of teaching, efficiency and ensuring continued appeal of the training approach.”