Vocational education of marshallers: introduction

Motivation

Basically, the vocational education of marshallers doesn't require (further) legal regulations. A reasonable approach which includes qualitative goals such as cost effectiveness, safety, health, success, actually already provides the right motivation.

Another decisive factor for operational success is keeping damages, the shortfall of personnel and machinery failure to the minimum possible. When talking of damages, we refer to any type of damage – not just to accidents and the direct costs caused thereby.

If you think safety is expensive, try an accident!

Rules of technology

The acquisition and the practical application of the acknowledged rules of technology are a crucial part of vocational education. Starting from first aid, passing through the securing of workplaces and on to the slinging of loads – true technical experts will always abide by the rules of technology.

Basic marshaller course (at a corporate level)

The basic marshaller course is appropriately designed to meet the above-mentioned needs. By means of a 5 day course the trainee marshallers are exhaustively and integrally primed for their tasks. The training is focused on the common regulations and requirements (basic rules) of the air cargo transport sector; it conveys knowledge, provides help in decision-making and opens up the way to practical application in an expert manner and at an appropriate level!

"At an appropriate level" means: as little theory as necessary –
as much practice as possible!

Thus, the companies are relieved of the tedious compilation and maintenance of teaching materials, of instructing the basics during the daily flying operations (which represents a significant hazard potential) and of the responsibility of keeping teaching aids always up-to-date and in conformity with legal requirements (risk of liability).

Furthermore, practical training with real external cargo flights requires space, tolerant neighbours and the means for performing such flights.
We can offer this possibility and, moreover, we are able to provide good training without stress and without impairing your company's daily flying operations. There is plenty of time and possibilities for breaks, discussions and corrective measures which can be carried out in a monitored environment.

What more practical training could you want!

The learning effect and the close relation to practice are achieved by the fact that the marshaller training is carried out under real conditions with pilots and an aircraft.

The course is performed in an ad hoc team, assembled for this purpose, consisting of up to 4 marshallers and 2 ECS1 pilots. By attending such training, the marshallers can carry out their learning far from the daily pressure of an aircraft company and within a team of experienced instructors who will help them to check and correct their newly acquired knowledge and put it into practice.
A R44 helicopter is sufficient for this type of training. As for the pilot training, the most important thing for cargo transport and marshaller training is to learn the basic principles, rules and techniques and to abide by them. Inside the cockpit, next to the flight instructor, there is also a short-line trainee pilot who undergoes specific practical training, as no pilot can afford to fly around with a rope just for fun. This way the pilot is also integrated into the marshaller training, since his "ground instruction" is carried out in a way which is closely related to practice.
Therefore, this type of vocational education presents both parties with a win-win situation.
After successful completion of the basic course, the neo-marshallers will already have achieved a certain degree of autonomy in performing the daily duties within their company.

Quality of service

To grant realistic conditions for flight operations, the course provider supplies all necessary equipment (slinging equipment, payload, helicopter, workplaces), as well as expert personnel inside the cockpit and on the ground. Our flight instructor has completed thousands of flying hours and is an old hand at external cargo operations. He is calm, steady and extremely experienced, even in difficult situations.

The coordination, execution and follow-up work to the course is done by a qualified graduate marshaller/instructor in collaboration with experts from FOCA and a growing team of skilled marshallers.

The vocational training is based on the "Marshaller Syllabus" (FH-SY) issued by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation. This teaching aid has been created in close collaboration with the industrial sector; it is continually updated and by now is used all over the world.

Last but not least, the marshallers' performance and behaviour will be assessed and evaluated according to generally acknowledged rules and the results will be forwarded to their companies.

Wide range of courses offered

The marshaller basic course is the lifeblood of HELO AIRWORK, but we also offer 1-2 day courses to meet specific needs.