Cantor Air Obtains ENAC AREA 100 KSA Certification

Area 100 KSA is a new training approach in ATPL theoretical training, introduced by EASA and made mandatory starting from January 2022.

AREA 100 KSA CERTIFICATION: Let's find out more

Area 100 KSA is a new training approach in ATPL theoretical training, introduced by EASA and made mandatory starting from January 2022.

Since the beginning, Cantor Air has worked hard to better address this novelty and today, the school, can be defined as ready to welcome it.

In fact, thanks to an important effort by its TEAM, mostly concentrated in 2021, the ATO is today one of the first ATOs able to carry out and administer AREA 100 KSA courses in full compliance with the requirements of the EASA Authority.

But what is the KSA 100?

KSA stands for "Knowledge, Skill and Attitude", or "Knowledge, Competence and Attitude" while 100, represents the training goal in the list of those to be achieved in the ATPL theory program.

What does the implementation of the KSA100 include?

The introduction of the KSA 100 represents a different approach to teaching methodology.

From EASA studies in commercial transport, it was seen that a good portion of candidates at the airline selection (all with valid licenses and qualifications), failed the company selection process. This was caused by several things, such as lack of knowledge, to the " Situation Awareness” and to the applicant’s low ability to take decisions, therefore because of the attitude. In particular, part of the failures were determined to by the insufficient or too slow adaptation of pilots to new cockpit technologies. It was therefore considered important that innovation in training keep pace with technological developments. In other words, the European ATOs were asked to take care of these aspects in a more important way, since basic training.

The "100 KSA" is a holistic training approach that develops the knowledge, skills and "know-how to do" and "know-how to be" of pilots.

Core Competencies are defined as:

• Application of knowledge

• Application of the procedure and respect of the regulation

• Communication

• Management of the flight path of the aircraft - Automation

• Management of the flight path of the aircraft - Manual

• Leadership and teamwork

• Problem solving: decision making

• Situational awareness and information management

• Workload management

The KSA 100 represents an epochal change that does not only concern a solitary part of the theoretical training, but is applied to all the training.

How did CANTOR AIR prepare and organize itself?

First of all, it must be said that CANTOR AIR was already well prepared for this type of methodology.

In fact, the “Competency Based Training & Assessment (CBTA)” was introduced already at February 2021. A specific training to which all 22 flight instructors employed at the ATO have been subjected, so as to be able to apply their instruction according to this new methodology: CBTA. That is, a teaching and evaluation method that seeks to identify the critical areas of the individual student in his cognitive learning process. Once the critical areas have been identified, it is possible to intervene in subsequent training directly in these areas, in order to generate more development of their abilities especially in the areas found to be "weaker". Particular care is taken for the evaluation of the "SITUATION AWARENESS" and "LEADERSHIP AND TEAM WORK"; fundamental parts of tomorrows CAPTAINs.

The CBTA was later introduced to theoretical instructors as well.

A method that allowed them to prepare for the following STEPS, including the new KSA 100 courses.

How does the KSA 100 course work during the ATPL lessons in CANTOR AIR?

The KSA 100 is now integrated into all ATPL subjects, which are carried out trying to raise awareness, in particular, of the following areas:

• Knowledge

• Mental Mathematics

• Team Work

• Situation Awareness

Everything is made with the introduction of real "Case studies" and group work.

In the KSA 100 course of CANTOR AIR, is provide a KSA 100 ad HOC instruction. This consists of 15 additional hrs in class (in addition to the 650 hrs already scheduled for the modular theoretical ATPL), where the reference instructor will introduce, in addition to the concepts of the KSA 100, also relevant parts of CREW RESOURSE MANAGMENT (CRM) and other topics concerning SAFETY, but always related to the AREAS of study.

At the end of the KSA 100 instruction, "assessments" are provided, some of which are evaluative as follows:

- MENTHAL MATH

- 1 FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

- 2 SUMMATIVE ASSESMENT

Passing the mental mathematics tests and the "Summative assessments" is a necessary pre-requisite for the students in order to attend to the ATPL theoretical exams at ENAC.

How are the "Assessments" carried out?

First of all, Menthal math's “Assessments” are memory calculation tests for the resolution. Most of the calculations are similar to those that the pilot has to face in flight, to manage particular situations. For example, fuel consumption calculations, wind vector breakdown, flight times based on average speed etc ...

Also with regard to the "Formative" and the two "Summative Assessments", CANTOR AIR has created a very practical test, based on flight. It is performed in a flight simulator, and the tests are to be taken by students in pairs. Thanks to this test, the instructors in charge will be able to judge and correct the interaction activity of the two pilots, in order to grasp their basic knowledge, their management skills, but above all their TEAM WORK and DECISION MAKING in solving all the inconveniences presented.

When will the KSA 100 start in CANTOR AIR?

In reality, everything has already begun. After having developed the course through an experimental phase in 2021, administering it to the ATPL courses closed in 2021, the new ATPL 17-2021 course, started in November and expected to close in April 2022, is in fact the first course that will formally follow the new template.

The date that EASA has formalized is still January 31, 2022, but our guys will soon get to the heart of this product.