What you need to know about the new Multi Crew Cooperation courses in Australia
As discussed in a previous article (The New ATPL Flight Test), for many years to obtain an ATPL it was sufficient to complete all seven exams and meet the minimum aeronautical experience requirements. Since 2014, there are several additional requirements, namely to complete an approved course of multi-crew cooperation training as well as to pass an ATPL Flight Test.
The ATPL flight test assesses the applicant’s competencies as pilot-in-command of a multi-crew operation. It is conducted as an IFR operation in a multi-engine turbine powered aeroplane (normally a simulator) operated with a co-pilot.
An MCC (Multi Crew Cooperation) course is not only a prerequisite to sit your ATPL flight test. To get a type rating on any multi-crew aircraft (from an EMB-120 or a BE1900, to an A320), you will also need an MCC course completion certificate.
To help gain some insight into the MCC course, Peter Chin, an airline veteran with many years experience with Qantas and Emirates, will explain what’s involved in the course he currently delivers in Perth:
The MCC course requires the student to have a CPL and instrument rating. Also, the student will have passed the ATPL Human Factors exam.
The course is spread over 7 continuous days and involves two days of ground school and five days of simulator flying. The two days of ground school cover threat and error management, standard operating procedures (SOPs), pilot duties and responsibilities. Five days of simulator sessions give each student 4 hours per day operating as both pilot flying (PF) and pilot monitoring (PM) for a total of 20 hours.
Students will learn how to use the Boeing SOPs for all of the flight regimes on a typical airline flight as PF and PM. Briefings, communication and situational awareness skills will be gradually developed during the five simulator days. Students will also learn how to program and use the flight management computer (FMC) and operate the aircraft using the auto flight systems.
During these sessions, the students will be exposed to the use of normal and non-normal checklists. Basic non-normal scenarios are introduced allowing both PF and PM to use procedures to resolve the problem.
Our simulator is based on the modern Boeing 737-800 airliner and has fully functional controls, instruments and systems. This is backed up with a 200° curved screen giving detailed airport and landscape visuals. Students will be operating out of the city pairs of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne throughout the five days.
At the end of the course, students will find the transition from light aircraft to a jet transport aircraft much easier and more manageable. Having a completed MCC will allow the student to progress further with the airline’s interview process. In fact, more airlines are now requiring the candidate to have completed an MCC course.
Peter Chin currently delivers the MCC course at the B737 simulator centre in the Perth CBD in conjunction with Aviation Australia. They also offer a range of B737 packages for pilots (loggable as Cat B simulator), including familiarisation or recency flights.
This article was written by David Roses. This content is not sponsored.