AIR CARG O WEEK
MARKET FORECAST
FUTURE PROACTIVE TRAINING ESSENTIAL FOR ENHANCING AIRFREIGHT PILOT WELLBEING
“How training is delivered is changing across the industry as cargo airlines are increasingly adopting evidence-based training (EBT).”
G
oing forward, maintaining high levels of pilot quality and wellbeing in airfreight operations goes far beyond simply meeting the mandatory recurrent training requirements set by regulators. The nature of cargo flying - often involving irregular hours, demanding schedules, and global
routings - means that airlines must think carefully about how their training is structured and delivered, what they invest in beyond the essentials, and how they support their crews in a sector where fatigue and operational complexity are common. Diako Rad, Director of Flight Operations, and Sandra Diaso, Head of HR at premium VIP charter and ACMI provider KlasJet, highlight why freight and charter operators in particular benefit from a proactive approach to training and pilot support.
Beyond the mandatory requirements All pilot training must comply with mandated regulatory frameworks. In Europe, this means aligning with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) requirement for recurrent training within a rolling three-year plan. Across this period, airlines must ensure a comprehensive range of
topics is covered, from technical
procedures to emergency scenarios. “Airlines are free to decide how and when these topics are
addressed. For example, we have our mandatory training organised in 6-month phases, with simulator sessions and recurrent training taking place every half year,” explains Diako Rad, Director of Flight Operations at KlasJet. For cargo and ACMI operators - whose pilots fly into diverse
locations at all hours - the need to go further is even more pronounced. Rad emphasises the value of targeted supplementary programmes: “Crew Resource Management (CRM) is an important area to focus on, especially if you are an international company with multinational crews and clientele. This brings certain challenges in terms of communication styles, and to manage these challenges it is important to go beyond the basic requirements of CRM training to include additional modules.” Global operators benefit from international expertise, and
KlasJet’s experience reflects this. Having evaluators from various regions allows the company to track the latest global developments in pilot training and adapt accordingly.
operational
Rad also stresses the importance of improving real-world proficiency.
“Another area for consideration is
increasing pilot proficiency, which then improves efficiency and leads to better and safer flights from a flight crew perspective. To achieve this improved proficiency, airlines should do more than the mandatory requirements in terms of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).”
The shift to evidence-based training How training is delivered is changing across the industry, and air cargo airlines are increasingly adopting evidence-based training (EBT). Although the concept has existed for nearly two decades, it gained formal endorsement from ICAO in 2013 and EASA in 2015. Full implementation, however, remains an evolving process. EBT uses operational data to assess crews across a range of
core competencies, blending “hard” skills - such as flight path management and workload management - with “soft” competencies like leadership, communication, and teamwork. In this system, instructors must present clear evidence of performance concerns, focusing on behaviours rather than simply checking procedural boxes. Rad strongly supports the shift. “EBT is about moving away from
an old school training set up with a one-size-fits-all approach. It is a more modern methodology which enables you to adjust training to suit an individual’s needs and focus on core competences. Naturally, rolling out EBT is not something that can happen overnight, but I am pleased that the trend is towards this kind of training,” he says.
Human connections matter Airfreight pilots often work long, isolated duty patterns, sometimes with minimal interaction with colleagues. This makes emotional wellbeing and team cohesion especially
important.
One effective practice is conducting recurrent training at the company’s home base. At KlasJet’s headquarters, this approach creates opportunities for pilots to meet supervisors and peers, strengthening trust and communication. Airlines should also create additional touchpoints, says Sandra
Diaso. “The human side is very important. We conduct base visits regularly in order to talk to our crews, listen to how they are feeling, and check on any issues. We also have monthly meetings online to discuss various topics that are relevant to our team. I believe this approach strengthens us as a team and leads to better understanding.”
A proactive approach that extends beyond the classroom Cargo operations may
include high-pressure scenarios - such
as evacuation missions, relief flights, or complex night-time operations. When these occur, airlines must provide immediate and practical support. “Let’s say that your crew has been involved in an intense or stressful job, such as an evacuation flight. It is very important after these flights for the pilots to know there is help on offer if they need it… Overall, it is very important to adapt to situations quickly and support the crew in a concrete way, not simply to wait for training sessions,” says Diaso. Rad
concludes that pilot development
should be continuous, not episodic. “Crews require constant education
and training.
Airlines can facilitate this by sharing publications and discussing specific cases and the lessons you can learn from them… Crew members will truly appreciate it when their training is constant and ongoing, and delivered through different platforms.”
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