Training vital for aviation safety

Training and risk assessment are vital tools in ensuring aviation safety, according to Dries Viljoen, AAFSA divisional CE for training, quality assurance and corporate services. The risk assessment and training courses provided by AAFSA – the training division in Bidair Services – are specially designed to ensure trainees are able to effectively meet every safety issue they are faced with, he told FTW. “In view of the continuous threat to flight safety and security and the risks associated with this sector of the aviation industry,” he added, “finding the right training for employees in the industry is critical. Ensuring that the training is of a high standard is equally vital, with every employer looking for quality and value for money.” Viljoen also pointed out that every CEO/MD was liable, accountable and responsible for ensuring total compliance with all the regulatory authority requirements – as laid down by the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and the Department of Labour. “Employers are also aware that the investment they make towards the training of their most valued asset, namely their staff, will have a positive impact on their business and give them a positive return.” To meet this demand, each of AAFSA’s instructors is a specialist in his subject field – adding up to many years of experience in international commercial aviation, airfreight, safety, security and quality management systems, safety auditing and risk assessment. “This ensures that we give our clients the quality training that they are entitled to,” Viljoen said. Backing up its promises, it is a SACAA-approved and accredited aviation training organisation (ATO); and rated a national key point (NKP) by the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (Sasseta) and the aerospace sector of the Transport Education Training Authority (Teta). “We are also approved and accredited in terms of safety and security training under cargo security Part 108, in X-ray screening and interpretation, dangerous goods, live animal regulations, perishable cargo regulations and various other cargo-related training,” Viljoen added. It is also a member of the International Air Transport Association (Iata) ground handling section and the Airports Council International (ACI) world business partner programme. “The AAFSA vision,” said Viljoen, “is that the high standard of safety and security training in the aviation industry is never negotiable – and is our first commandment.”