04.07.2024
New Training Requirements for OJT Mentors & Assessors

In May 2023, the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/989 which amends Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 on the “continuing airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products, parts and appliances, and on the approval of organizations and personnel involved in these tasks” was released.

One major change was the introduction of more stringent requirements for the mentors and assessors of On-the-Job Training (OJT) applicants, to ensure that senior employees overseeing applicants’ OJT are suitably qualified to be teaching and evaluating.

As well as needing qualifications such as holding a valid Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML), mentors and assessors will now also need to have either proven experience in training or assessing others, or have completed a relevant qualification, such as a train-the-trainer course.

The requirements for Mentors and Assessors as stated in the implementing regulation have been included below, copied from EUR-Lex, the EU’s official website for European Union Law:

6.4

Requirements for mentors and assessors

Mentors and assessors are maintenance staff with the following qualifications:

(i)

Mentors:

—

hold a valid aircraft maintenance licence (AML) issued in accordance with this Annex or a valid and fully compliant with ICAO Annex 1 AML in accordance with Appendix IV to Annex II (Part-145), which is acceptable to the competent authority;

—

have been holding, for at least 1 year, an AML in the same category, when compared to the one for which the OJT is being mentored, that is endorsed with a type rating appropriate to exercise the privileges on the related aircraft;

—

have the necessary release or sign-off privileges in the maintenance organisation where the OJT is performed;

—

have experience in training other people (such as being apprenticeship instructors, instructors in accordance with Annex IV (Part-147), having received train-the-trainer courses or having any other comparable national qualification, or having a training to do so that is acceptable to the competent authority).

(ii)

Assessors of the final assessment:

—

hold a valid AML issued in accordance with this Annex or a valid and fully compliant with ICAO Annex 1 AML in accordance with Appendix IV to Annex II (Part-145), which is acceptable to the competent authority;

—

have been holding, for at least 3 years, an AML in the same category, when compared to the one for which the OJT is being assessed, endorsed with the same or similar aircraft type rating;

—

have experience and/or have received training in assessing others (such as being apprenticeship instructors, examiners in accordance with Annex IV (Part-147), having received train-the-trainer courses, or having any other comparable national qualification, or having a training to do so that is acceptable to the competent authority);

—

shall not have been involved as a mentor of the applicant in the OJT; when the assessor has taken part in the OJT performance, then an independent observer shall be present during the OJT assessment.

These requirements apply from June 12, 2024. More information and guidelines about the implementing regulation can be found on EASA’s website.

If you’re an existing mentor or assessor for OJT, or if you’re looking to upskill your experienced team members, QCM’s Training Department can help. Our 5-day “Train the Trainer” course covers all the skills you need to become an effective mentor, assessor, or instructor, including preparing a training, different teaching methods, and evaluating, and is recognized by the competent authorities.

All professionals are invited to join our next open training. Alternatively, we can organize personalized in-house or distance learning delivered to your team at your convenience – if you’d like a quote, please email train@qcm.ch.

About QCM’s Training Department

It’s no accident that the “Q” in QCM stands for “Quality”. Since the launch of our training program in 2000, QCM has provided regulatory and Part-147 training to over 32,000 aviation professionals.

The numerous participants we have taught reflects the need for high quality and thorough training, to maintain essential skills and meet regulatory requirements. Aviation regulations are constantly being updated, and our trainers diligently stay across any technical and regulatory changes to ensure the professionals they teach are receiving current information.

When partnering with QCM for your training needs, you can be confident that your team members are receiving the highest quality training available. Our qualified, experienced instructors are thorough in their teaching. By using real-life, practical examples and facilitating a learning environment which encourages course participants to ask questions and get involved throughout the training, participants will leave the course even more knowledgeable and confident than when they walked in.

To organize any regulatory or Part-147 approved Basic or Type Training for yourself or your team, please contact us at train@qcm.ch or visit www.qcm.ch/training/. All in-house trainings can be customized and personalized to meet your team’s learning requirements.