SA-based aviation training institution Cranfield Aviation Training has introduced an eLearning platform as part of its online strategy to offer students an alternative means of acquiring qualification.
According to the institution, the aNewSpring platform was introduced to ensure longevity as a provider of training in aviation, and to meet the evolving demands its learners.
Established in 2018, the institution, which has over 6 000 students, offers 80 courses to the flight deck and cabin crew personnel, as well as flight engineers.
Cranfield has collaborated with e-learning solutions provider and regional distributor, New Leaf Technologies, to offer nine of these courses online, with a target of offering an additional 23 in the next three months.
“eLearning is becoming more commonplace in SA and the modern-day learner is no longer content with training in a classroom environment,” says Mandy Tebbit, director of Cranfield Aviation Training.
“Many operators around the globe send their crew to SA for training, largely as a result of the good quality of education offered. Time and costs will be greatly reduced, with the crew being able to undergo their recurrency training at their own pace.”
Cranfield has been trying to get permission from the SA Civil Aviation Authority to offer online training for seven years now, adds Tebbit. Given the nature of the training, certain regulations, required accreditation, and the safety concern for both passengers and crew, the authority needed to ensure a high level of training is maintained, and verification and auditing are possible.
Paul Hanly, the co-founder of New Leaf Technologies, distributor of aNewSpring learning platform, says: “We are excited about this project and look forward to the results that we know eLearning will bring to this traditionally conservative industry. We see huge benefits for people like pilots and cabin crew who are often out of the country and can now do a large amount of their recurrency training remotely, in their own time.”
Cranfield has 25 non-aviation courses relating to other high-risk industries, such as nuclear, oil and gas, mining, manufacturing and construction. It aims to have at least five of these available on the e-learning platform within the next month.
“We see a huge demand internationally for human factor training in other industries, such as mining as well as oil and gas. Our goal is to take these courses outside of the aviation industry using the aNewSpring platform,” concludes Tebbit.
