My Jet Transition Program experience with Acron Aviation Academy and BMA

CFI André Knowles shares a first-hand account of his Jet Transition Program experience at Acron Aviation Academy, delivered in partnership with Bell Murray Aerospace (BMA).

During the Jet Transition Program, a strong emphasis was placed on Crew Resource Management (CRM). The course was incredibly engaging - learning the difference between a checklist and a flow and how to apply them in different scenarios in the Airbus A320 was an eye-opening experience and an insight into our future a few years down the line. A strong prominence was also placed on teamwork - the ability to work as a crew member, not an individual. This is critical for our path as an airline pilot in training and differs largely from a single-crew training environment in which we experience as cadets.

The ground school element of the course was engaging, starting with an overlook at the general flows, checklists and systems of the Airbus A320. While the procedures were not airline-specific, it provided a great depth of knowledge as to the preparation of the aircraft, from programming the MCDU to engine start. A key aspect we learned was that 90% of the programming of the flight happens prior to engine start. This made me gain an appreciation for the preflight element of the flight - any discrepancies not ironed out prior to startup could present a major issue later in flight. We were also presented with chair flying posters, which helped us to learn how airline pilots practice their procedures both on and off the line. The system depth of the Airbus is fascinating; how the aircraft feeds our control inputs through electronic signals, and how the fly-by-wire system works. This ground school taught us a broad range of topics - from having a three-position navigation light switch to the ACARS and CPDLC operation onboard the aircraft.

For me, the full-motion simulators were the best part of the experience. An important point I picked up on during my time in this course was that the Airbus was designed for a “250-hour commercial European pilot” - this could not be truer. Seeing the displays and switches in a 1:1 scale, not just on my flight simulator at home, was highly motivational. The cockpit interface was clean and clear, and the overhead panel was divided into sections - one for hydraulics and one for fuel; a section for exterior lighting and another for anti-icing equipment, and so on. One of the emphasised fundamentals was that a core Airbus philosophy involves an “all dark” cockpit, meaning if the buttons are dark (not illuminated), the system is working in order or ‘engaged’. This made it easier to understand which buttons to press, and at which time.

For me, the full-motion simulators were the best part of the experience. Seeing the displays and switches in a 1:1 scale, not just on my flight simulator at home, was highly motivational.
André Knowles

Additionally, being able to consolidate all learned material from the ground school sessions, from the programming of the MCDU, to the general handling of the A320, allowed me to broaden my horizons and develop my own understanding of airline-grade aircraft. Trialling a range of scenarios in the flight deck - from a normal take-off, to a “V1 cut”, to a single-engine landing in Cat II conditions, proved incredibly insightful. Having obtained a multi-engine rating a few months prior, I realised that the handling aspect surrounding single-engine manoeuvres remained the same from the Piper Seminole to the Airbus - albeit easier to control due to the fly-by-wire system assist. Handling the aircraft inflight was smooth - only a 3-finger movement was required on the sidestick to make any adjustments. I much preferred hand-flying the aircraft as opposed to letting autopilot do the work! We were exposed to both engine configurations - on the first day, the IAE V2500 engines and on the second day, the CFM56 engines. While they may sound the same to some, it definitely excited the little boy from years ago inside me.

I would extremely recommend the Jet Transition Program to those with a keen eye for aviation and a budding career as an airline pilot. Not only does it help to apply airline principles in our current phase of training, but the boost of motivation from this course was special. It took my headspace out of “TCO grind” mode and further into “here’s what my future looks like”. The Jet Transition Program, in my opinion, is a vital precursor to the airline world and will certainly develop a solid foundation for those with a burning passion to become a captain, regardless of their current flight time.

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