Advanced Aircrew Academy Receives Growth Investment: Harbour Grove, an aviation-focused holding company, will assume leadership

CHARLESTON, SC - August 26, 2024. Advanced Aircrew Academy (“Aircrew Academy”), a leading eLearning provider for the aviation sector, announced a strategic growth investment from Harbour Grove.

Harbour Grove, an aviation-focused holding company led by partners Alvin Wong and Jordan Huibers, will assume leadership of the business as Co-CEOs. The company’s founders, Dan Boedigheimer and William Hattler, will continue to support the company, with Dr. Boedigheimer transitioning to Chief Safety Officer and Mr. Hattler stepping into the role of Strategic Advisor.

Founded in 2006, Advanced Aircrew Academy enables customers to fulfill regulatory and industry-mandated training in a self-paced eLearning environment. Aircrew Academy offers an extensive catalog of over 125 regularly updated modules tailored to an operator’s specific needs, providing a comprehensive platform that streamlines training management.

“The focus from day one has been to provide the highest quality, most engaging training content in a convenient, online self-paced learning environment. Our team actively listens to our customers and prioritizes delivering customized training tailored to each operator’s unique requirements. We are excited to partner with Alvin and Jordan who have conviction in the aviation verticals we serve today and who will lead us as we grow the most talented team of subject matter experts in the industry,” noted Dr. Boedigheimer, who in addition to Co-Founding Advanced Aircrew Academy, is the incoming Chairman of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Safety Committee.

“This partnership comes at the perfect time given the tremendous growth we’ve experienced over the past several years. Our all-in-one training suite provides a differentiated solution for the industry’s leading fixed and rotor wing flight departments supporting all job functions including pilots, flight attendants, dispatchers, line service, maintenance, engineering, and office personnel,” commented Mr. Hattler, who previously served as COO.

“Alvin and I are thrilled to join the talented team at Advanced Aircrew Academy at such an exciting inflection point in the company’s journey,” remarked Mr. Huibers.” As pilots, we are continually focused on the pursuit of learning and advancement. We look forward to building on that tradition by expanding our offerings, enhancing our technological capabilities, and helping more operators centralize and simplify their training programs.”

New Training Curriculum and Modules: Safety Managers

Expanded training options for Safety Managers

The recent change to 14 CFR 5 requires Part 135 operators to develop and implement a Safety Management System by May 28, 2027. With the exception of Single-Pilot operators, 14 CFR 5.25 now requires the operator’s Accountable Executive to appoint one or more management personnel to superintend their SMS.

The Safety Manager can be a dedicated, full-time position or an additional duty for one or more people. Regardless of the organizational structure, Safety Managers must have the tools to effectively oversee the required components of an SMS: Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, Safety Promotion, and Emergency Response Planning. Advanced Aircrew Academy’s Safety Management Systems modules fulfill the 14 CFR 5.93(a) requirement to train most personnel on SMS policies, processes, and tools relevant to their responsibilities.

This Safety Manager curriculum is meant to address the need for higher level competencies that will enable a Safety Manager to foster a safety culture and effectively manage risks within their organization. Clients may select one or all of these topics:

? Accident Investigation*

? Aviation Safety Action Programs

? Emergency Response Planning*

? Flight Data Monitoring / FOQA*

? Human Factors: Procedural Non-Compliance*

? Internal Evaluation Program

? Line Operations Safety Audits

? Risk Management

? Safety Culture and Leadership

? Safety Education and Promotion*

? Threat and Error Management

(* Module in development)

To inquire about a bundled pricing discount, email us at [email protected].

New Rotor Wing Module Topics

Part 135 Performance Based Navigation and More

Advanced Aircrew Academy’s module selection for Rotor Wing continues to grow!

Our subject matter experts recently published our Rotor Wing Part 135 Performance Based Navigation module. The Performance Based Navigation module is organized sequentially as it follows along the lines of a flight:

? Background

? General Procedures

? Preflight

? Departures

? Enroute

? Arrivals

? Approaches

? Contingencies

We offer 20+ customizable eLearning modules. Click here for list of available modules

Expanded Curriculum for Flight Coordinators

NTSB calling for certified Flight Dispatchers for all Part 135 operators

The NTSB is calling for the FAA to require that Part 135 operations use certified flight dispatchers, expand the load manifest requirements to single-pilot operations, improve data collection, and mandate flight data monitoring programs. These were among a handful of new and reiterated recommendations that the NTSB made because of a special investigation it conducted into 116 fatal and 460 nonfatal accidents from 2010 to 2022 involving commuter air carriers, air tour operators, air ambulance services, and on-demand charters, among others flying under Part 135.

We agree that Part 135 crews would benefit from a qualified Airman providing planning and operational control assistance, but the NTSB recommendation of an FAA-Certified Dispatcher is overkill. Part 65 Dispatcher programs are long, prohibitively expensive, and train to an ATP-equivalent that are appropriate to Parts 121 and 125, not charter. A simpler solution would be to create a lower-level (think Commercial or Private/Instrument) Dispatcher certification that could be done online; this would be more affordable and accessible for Part 135 operators.

In response, we have expanded our curriculum since we realize many business aviation flight departments do not use licensed dispatchers, so there is a gap in training between scheduling a trip and comprehending the requirements of the trip route, airport, crew, and aircraft.

Advanced Aircrew Academy’s Flight Coordinator curriculum encompasses the job roles of scheduler, flight coordinator, and general dispatch. Our Flight Coordinator training options allow you to build a customized training plan with a variety of topics that cover the basics of required aircraft knowledge, parameters of scheduling and building trips, and the overlying process, procedures, and regulations that decide how and when an aircraft can be dispatched.

The following modules are available now:

? Aircraft and Performance

? Airports and Navigation

? Errors and Procedural Non Compliance

? Human Factors

? International Procedures

? Regulations and Emergencies

? Weather Resources

? Weather Theory

? Winter Operations For a full list of Scheduler/Dispatcher module topics, click here.

The Importance of Cabin vs Flight Attendants: There is a Difference!

By: Advanced Aircrew Academy

In business aviation, “cabin attendant” and ”flight attendant” are often used interchangeably, but each role has distinct meanings and responsibilities, and those differences can mean the difference between life and death.

If you are on a private jet, many would assume the cabin attendant is a trained flight attendant, but that’s not always the case. Most private jets have 19 seats or less, which means both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) do not require a trained flight attendant for safety purposes.

However, the passengers in the Bombardier Challenger 604 that made an off-airport emergency landing on Feb 9, 2024, are alive because of the flight attendant’s training, which allowed her to direct her passengers through a small baggage door at the rear of the cabin just moments before a secondary explosion consumed the rear of the aircraft in flames. While both titles generally refer to individuals responsible for passenger care during flights, the context of business aviation introduces unique nuances. Let’s examine the differences between cabin vs flight attendants in this specialized field.

Flight Attendant

A flight attendant is a trained professional who ensures passenger safety, security, and comfort during flights—in that exact order. Safety is the priority, and they are considered crewmembers. This term is widely recognized and used across the aviation industry, including in business aviation, but it typically emphasizes more of the safety and regulatory aspects of the role.

Cabin Attendant

In business aviation, “cabin attendant” refers to those working on private or corporate jets to provide comfort. They provide a more personalized service, focusing on the luxury and experience that business aviation provides. Cabin attendants in this sector are trained to create an exceptional atmosphere tailored to the specific needs of high-profile clients.

They pay attention to customer comfort but aren’t always trained in the nitty-gritty details of the aircraft they are working on.

Responsibilities

While the core responsibilities of both roles revolve around passenger service, they differ in scope and focus, particularly in business aviation.

Personalized Service: Cabin attendants in business aviation are expected to deliver highly personalized service. This includes understanding individual preferences for food, beverages, and cabin layout, ensuring that every detail contributes to a comfortable and luxurious experience.

Safety and Security: Both cabin attendants and flight attendants are trained in emergency protocols; however, in business aviation, the emphasis may also include additional privacy and security measures, especially when dealing with high-profile passengers.

Catering and Preparation: Cabin attendants often take on the responsibility of preparing and managing in-flight catering, which can range from gourmet meals to specific dietary requests.

Cabin Management: In business aviation, cabin attendants may also be involved in the maintenance and organization of the cabin. This can include managing onboard supplies, ensuring the cabin is clean and comfortable, and preparing the aircraft for landing.

Training

Training for cabin attendants and flight attendants in business aviation can also differ.

Flight Attendant Training: This typically includes comprehensive safety training, emergency procedures, and customer service skills focused on various passenger demographics.

Cabin Attendant Training: In business aviation, training often includes specialized customer service skills tailored to high-net-worth individuals. This may involve etiquette, fine-dining service, and customization based on client preferences.

Solution

Understanding these distinctions highlights the specialized nature of roles within business aviation, where exceptional service and attention to detail are paramount. Both cabin attendants and flight attendants play crucial roles in ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey, but the expectations in which they operate can differ significantly.

A simple solution is to provide low-cost training for cabin attendants and keep flight attendants current with customizable eLearning. Advanced Aircrew Academy has 25+ eLearning modules designed for cabin/flight attendants that can be customized to your process and procedures.

These modules can be assigned alone or as part of a curriculum. Topics include the following: ? Alcohol/Drug Misuse Prevention

? Aviation Safety Action Program

? Corporate Aviation Security

? Cosmic Radiation

? Crew Resource Management (CRM): Part 135, Human Factors

? CRM / Human Factors: Procedural Non Compliance, Stress Management

? Dangerous Goods / Hazmat

? Emergency Procedures

? Emergency Response Plan

? Fatigue Management

? Food Safety

? High Altitude Operations

? Human Trafficking Awareness

? Line Operation Safety Audits

? Occupational Safety and Health

? Operations Manual

? Part 125 Exam

? Regulated Waste

? Safety Management Systems (SMS)

? Threat and Error Management (TEM)

? TSA Security

? Winter Operations / Surface Contamination

Click here to view our available modules or email [email protected] for information on discount bundle pricing

As Global Threats Rise, Corporate Flight Departments Need More Resources, Not Cost-Cutting

Advanced Aircrew Academy partners with CASI to provide updated safety information

By: Corporate Aviation Security International (CASI)

Corporate Aviation flight departments are one of a CEO’s greatest assets. The flight department is a force multiplier that extends their output by placing critical teams around the globe within hours; it is an efficiency machine critical for business; and it’s another layer of security, providing a critical safeguard of corporate intelligence, keeping intellectual property secure and private information private.

It would seem to be common sense to add proper protection for the flight department employees who ARE the company’s major assets; however, many flight departments explain they are seeing fewer resources while simultaneously facing an extreme increase in global threats. Sadly, some flight departments might not even be aware of the significance of these threats due to their limited resources.

Many flight department personnel face the difficulty of questioning decision makers in their companies who will not commit additional resources to supplementing their security. These are just a few of the arguments they encounter:

? We don’t see the required numbers in the profit margin of our P&L statement to support the cost.

? If something happens, we will look into it.

? Why are we paying for security? Nothing ever happens.

Most people can look at those statements and immediately see problems. From a business perspective, you can be sure that your company has financial safeguards and redundancies for unknown eventualities. The physical building you work in most likely has multiple layers of security including security personnel, a badge system, an evacuation plan, and more.

So how do flight departments ensure they do not get the short end of this security stick and can effectively fight for these essential resources? Sure, these flight departments have an excellent safety record due to their professionalism, dedication to training, and proficiency with all the elements they CAN control. It’s the security threats that they CAN’T control, which are rapidly escalating globally, where they need the added resources for security assessments, training, and consulting.

The primary challenge that flight departments seem to be facing is that they need clear, actionable intelligence to bring to their leadership to make the case for additional resources. Knowledge, education, and real-world examples from experts in the protection and security profession, who also understand the uniqueness of business aviation operations, will help flight departments make the argument for specialized security training and investments in retaining supplemental security services for their travel.

When bad things happen, nobody wants the responsibility of telling any of the following to the principal or the family of the victim:

? One of our flight crew was kidnapped.

? Due to budget cuts, we did not think it was a good idea at the time to invest in the added security.

? We never thought it would happen to us.

It is a moral and ethical responsibility of flight department leadership to know and educate their staff and corporate leadership on these dangers, including the potential threats of kidnapping; theft of intellectual property; risks to aircraft, reputation, or other major assets; and especially threats to human life.

If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, then investing in the added security of your personnel will increase the efficiency and focus of the maintainers and flight crews to fix and fly the aircraft and ensure the current corporate security team has the supplemental support required.

It is an investment in time savings for the flight department and in retaining quality employees. The proper security team will conduct the threat analysis at the destinations you plan to fly to and provide updated information to the executives, flight crews, and HQ security team to ensure an efficient, successful trip. A great security team is a partner, not a vendor.

When natural or man-made disasters happen, and you have proactive security support with you and working to ensure your protection and safe evacuation or medical support, you will not think twice about that investment or the numbers on your P&L form. No amount of financial savings can rival the protection of life, reputation, and intellectual property, as well as peace of mind.

Corporate Aviation Security International, LLC (CASI) provides assessment, training, and consulting services to support flight departments and enhance the safety of their executives, flight crews, and aircraft, at home and at their global destinations.

10 Seconds to Make the Right Choice

Advanced Aircrew Academy’s Shelbe Jarrett gets a new attitude

By: Shelbe Jarrett

Did you know that you have less than ten seconds to survive a loss of control in-flight event?

Would you have the training necessary to use those ten seconds to your advantage and perform life-saving maneuvers to remedy the LOC-I event?

Better yet, do you know what the signs are of an LOC-I event so that you may avoid it all together?

These were all scenarios that my colleague Gray Taylor and I were faced with at Aviation Performance Solutions (APS). The training that we received at APS was nothing short of excellent. Before each flight is a thorough briefing that was engaging and informative; it sets the stage for what to expect during our hour-long flights that follow.

The highly skilled and knowledgeable instructors did an outstanding job of instructing us through various upsets, both how to get out of an upset and also how to recognize and prevent an upset event from occurring.

While the training is rigorous and intensive, it was an absolute blast to fly such a capable airplane as the Extra 300. My own personal favorite part had to have been the all attitude flying maneuvers that we got to experience, which absolutely included going inverted!

Overall, the experience was invaluable, and I truly feel like a safer pilot after partaking in the excellent training at APS!

The Flying Squirrels!

Summer Program that provides kids the opportunity to earn five flight hours

By: Shelbe Jarrett

As someone who works every day in the aviation industry, it’s easy to forget just how fascinating this business really is. So, when the opportunity arises to volunteer with an organization founded in immersing the next generation in aviation, I jump at it! Witnessing the young encounter aviation for the first time is a joy that never gets old.

Since the 1960s, the Flying Squirrels have been committed to immersing youth in aviation in the Kokomo, Indiana area. After its start as an Explorer post of the Boy Scouts, the Flying Squirrels continued to grow. In the 70s, the Squirrels settled into their home base at Glendale Airport, a small grass strip just South of Kokomo.

Around the year 2000, the club was ready to disband until Steve Cusick and Gregg Lockwood maintained the helm. The duo turned the club into a nonprofit flying club for kids ages 14-18. The two developed long-lasting partnerships with Flight Training Centers?Indiana, a local flight club, and the local chapter of EAA?to garner support, and the Flying Squirrels took off.

Every summer, the Flying Squirrels host a Summer Program that provides a group of kids with the opportunity to earn five flight hours and approximately eight hours of ground school that can be used toward their private pilot certificate.

The program is entirely supported by volunteers who volunteer their time as ground instructors, flight instructors, chaperones, and speakers. Squirrel members gather from all over the central Indiana area to partake in this pivotal experience!

The group meets every Tuesday for five weeks during the summertime and rotates on an hourly basis, flying and ground school. The students and volunteers then gather for lunch and listen to a guest speaker share their own unique experience in aviation.

This year, Advanced Aircrew Academy had the opportunity to donate lunches for the Flying Squirrels and the many volunteers. The Flying Squirrels are incredibly grateful for all of the donors and volunteers that make this memorable experience possible!

Report On Events

A recap of events attended by Advanced Aircrew Academy experts

jetAVIVA Business Aviation Summit in Denver, CO. – This event, held at the Denver Ritz Carlton, connected industry leaders, owners and operators, chief pilots, directors of aviation, and other managers of Part 91 and 135 operations. Advanced Aircrew Academy’s Erika Armstrong participated in the business aviation training panel.

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aviation Forum and Exposition – This is the world’s largest professional society for aerospace with nearly 30,000 members and 98 corporate members from 91 countries. Their Aviation Forum event was held in Las Vegas in the Ceaser’s Forum. Advanced Aircrew Academy’s Erika Armstrong presented on the HUB stage.

FAA Drone & AAM Symposium, Baltimore July 30 – August 1 – The drone/AAM/UAS market continues to grow, so we’re prepared to train everyone in the industry! Advanced Aircrew Academy’s Dave Smith and Milt Steiner attended the event and have gathered information to expand our UAS Training Program. For our list of UAS modules, click here.

ARGUS Connect, August 7-8, Denver, CO – Advanced Aircrew Academy’s Erika Armstrong attended the annual event specifically designed for ARGUS customers that brings together industry executives for a day of discussions that impact all our businesses. It was an opportunity to learn, network, and connect with industry executives

Embry-Riddle Prescott Campus, August 20 – Chief Safety Officer for Advanced Aircrew Academy, Dan Boedigheimer, Ph.D. was the keynote for the President’s Safety Day at the University’s Prescott campus, helping get their fall semester off the ground safely!

Advanced Aircrew Academy Summit, Sept 10-12, Minneapolis, MN – The Advanced Aircrew Academy team gathers in person each year for a company summit to share ideas and put our aviation brains together to ensure our products and services remain on the leading edge of aviation training. A little friendly scavenger hunt by a group of type-A personalities adds some fun dynamics, too. We’re looking forward to sharing our innovations with you.

Upcoming Events Mark your calendars and join us at these events in 2024-25

National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA BACE), Oct 22-24, Las Vegas – Advanced Aircrew Academy’s team will be in BOOTH 3865. We’re bringing back the Poker Run in collaboration with Polaris Aero, Aircraft Performance Group, Quality Resources, and Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC). Stop by our booth to pick up the poker card and information. $5,000 top prize! We’re also hosting our annual luncheon on Tuesday from 11-1. Email [email protected] to RSVP and we’ll send you the details.

NBAA International Operators Conference (IOC), Feb 11-13, San Juan PR – Advanced Aircrew Academy team members will be attending the NBAA International Operators Conference. It’s the premier event for anyone involved with international business aviation operations, including international flight planning service providers, schedulers and dispatchers, and pilots, to come together in one place to network, learn, and do business.

About Advanced Aircrew Academy Advanced Aircrew Academy enables flight operations to fulfill their training needs in the most efficient and affordable way—in any location at any time. We do this by providing high quality training modules delivered via the web using a world-class online aviation training system. With over 120 eLearning modules, we have the content to meet your training needs.

We have eLearning modules for all job roles in your flight department including pilots, flight/cabin attendants, mechanics/engineers, schedulers/dispatchers, line service technicians, and office staff. Our training modules are authored by trainers with extensive experience as professional pilots, flight attendants, schedulers, and mechanics who share the real information that can be used on the job. We can customize any of our modules to your operation easily and affordably.

About Harbour Grove Harbour Grove (www.harbourgrove.com) is a dedicated team focused on enhancing aviation training and safety. Our mission is to support and grow opportunities that contribute to a safer and more efficient aviation industry.