Overall in-charge and business head of the FTO and assumes the postholder of Accountable Manager for DGCA. Responsible for all key management decisions pertaining to the FTO including managing the P&L. The Head of FTO is the bridge between the airline and the FTO,and is responsible for the entire organization and management of the FTO. The Head of FTO will perform all regulatory duties required by DGCA from the Accountable Manager.
Key Accountabilities
Responsible business head for the Air India FTO, including P&L management
Manage and develop the working team to run the FTO and to achieve global best-in-class standards
Manage and lead a team of instructors, engineers, administrators, and support staff, including training, mentoring, and performance management, and manage fulfillment for all the key positions of the Air India FTO
Ensure compliance with all aviation regulations and standards, including specific requirements of the Accountable Manager, FTO
Enter into global partnerships to ensure best-in-class training availability
Collaborate with aviation industry partners to identify emerging trends and technologies that impact pilot training and adapt training programs and curriculum
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of training programs, adjusting as necessary to ensure the highest quality of instruction and training
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging innovation and creativity in the development and delivery of training programs
Ensure the efficient and effective use of resources, including personnel, facilities, and equipment, to optimize the operations of the FTO
Develop and manage operations, policies, procedures, and standards in accordance with the best-in-class standards
Develop and manage the budget, including identifying economic efficiency opportunities and optimizing resource allocation
Stay up-to-date on industry trends, best practices, and technological advances related to pilot training and regulatory compliance and implement these
Develop and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, training vendors, and industry associations
Provide regular reports and updates to the senior management team on the performance of the cadet pilot school
Any other additional responsibility could be assigned to the role holder from time to time as a standalone project or regular work. The same would be suitably represented in the Primary responsibilities and agreed between the incumbent, reporting officer and HR.
Skills Required for the role
Strong Leadership
Decision-making agility
Strategic Planning
Motivational
Communication Skills
Ownership
Interpersonal skills
Adaptability
Key Performance Indicators
Efficiency achieved by the FTO – 180 cadets p.a. and 18-month CPL completion
Financial performance of the FTO
Number of safety incidents each location
Efficiency in operational metrics – e.g. 1,200 aircraft utilization, instructor utilization
Key Interfaces
Internal Interfaces
Internal Stakeholders
Collaboration with Aviation Academy, Air India (HR, Finance, IT, Flight Operations, Safety), Pilot Training units, and Management Team
External Interfaces
External Stakeholders
FTO Partners, Cadets, Regulatory Authorities, ATO Partners, Industry
Educational and Experience Requirements
Minimum Education requirements
Bachelor’s degree in any field
Experience
Minimum
Desired
For non-pilot profiles:
12+ years of Experience in an aviation or related training institute
5+ years of experience in leading a business unit or a geographical unit
Experience in P&L ownership
Experience with leading a team of 30+ members
Experience of working with regulatory authorities and thorough understanding of aviation training
Experience in curriculum development, instructional design, training delivery
Experience in analytics and efficiency improvement diagnostics
For pilot profiles:
Experience in Senior training/ operations / management roles with leading Indian/Global airlines
Senior pilot with ATPL and 12+ years of flying experience in standard airline fleet
Direct experience with safety / training under airline Flight Operations
Experience in P&L management
Senior pilot with 15+ years of flying experience in standard airline fleet
Strong working relationships with regulatory authorities and thorough understanding of FTOs
Experience in curriculum development, instructional design, training delivery