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Our JAR integrated ATPL(A) training consists of 3 phases and taken in 22 to 24 months:

  • Phase I.1 - Cameroon - Theoretical training including FNPT II simulator -11/12 months
  • Phase I.2 - Belgium - JAR ATPL theoretical exams; JAR class 1 medical exam - 1 month
  • Phase II.1 - USA - Flight training - 6 months
  • Phase II.2 - Belgium - Flight training - 2 months
  • Phase III - Simulator training - Brussels Airport - 2 months

If a student has not obtained the Belgium JAR class1 medical certificate, he will still follow the entire course phase I & II. Only the phase III will be amended to fit the requirements of the Cameroonian licence.

Below you will find a few features of this which are worth highlighting, and at the bottom you can download the complete program.

Theoretical training (Phase I)

Introduction

The theoretical part of the training prepares students - who have successfully completed the selection tests - for the official "Airline Pilot" examinations organized by the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority. This theoretical training is combined with airline observation flights with major airlines, an intensive "Basic Flying Course" and basic simulator (FNPTII) training.

Courses start twice a year in the SFA-A building located at Douala Cameroon

The complete training is provided in English.

Every subject is taught by professionals, most often airline pilots or engineers, physics or aviation master graduates.

Program

The subjects of the courses in order to prepare the students for the final ATPL theoretical examination organized by the Belgian Civil Aviation Authorities and the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority , are as follows:

  • Air law and regulations
  • Human Performance and limitations
  • Basic principles of flight
  • Aircraft general knowledge
  • Meteorology and Climatology
  • General navigation and Radio navigation
  • Communication VFR-IFR
  • Operational procedures
  • Aircraft performance, weight and balance, flight planning

Students receive 750hrs of classroom courses, including revisions and exams preparations. Every single hour is taught by an instructor with the help of modern didactic tools (no self study, nor computer based training). Exercise sessions or practical sessions are also organized: VFR/IFR communication exercises in groups of 5 students, FMS introduction sessions in a real FMS trainer etc.

Active learning

In order to increase motivation and to facilitate comprehension, SFA-A offers the opportunity to attend observation sessions during an actual flight in a B737 simulator.

To provide trainees with a general idea of the actual job of an airline pilot life and the airline environment, visits are organized:

  • Airport (pier, airport facilities, ...)
  • Facilities (handling, catering, technics, ...)
  • Belgocontrol
  • Eurocontrol
  • Asecna

Evaluations

Weekly evaluations are organized in order to help the students develop an optimum study rhythm and to prepare them for the ATPL exam. Whereas the official ATPL exam is a multiple choice test, our weekly evaluations also contain 50% of questions requiring a written answer. Preparing for the ATPL exam is not the only issue; we prepare our students for their pilot career!

In order to provide the most efficient preparation for the multiple choice exam, our trainees have access to a JAR question bank containing thousands of questions. An individual follow-up is organized by the ground instructors.

ATPL theory examination

The "Airline Pilot" or "ATPL" examination is a national exam organized by the Belgian Aviation Authorities. This exam (14 separate tests) is performed in 2 blocks of 1 week and is planned in Belgium, at the end of the theoretical training period.

Flight training (Phase II)

Introduction

Thanks to Arizona's fair climate, the huge number of airports available and the complexity of the airspace, the largest part of the flight instruction is given in Mesa ( Arizona, USA) at the Sabena Airline Training Centre (SATC), a 100% subsidiary of the SFA, a CAE company.

A fleet of modern, well-equipped Diamond aircraft guarantees our students - as well as students of the Koninklijke Luchtvaart School (KLS) and students of worldwide airlines such as Kingfisher Airlines (IN), Spicejet (IN), Air Malta etc… high quality training.

After the training in Falcon Field, Mesa (incl. CPL-check), acclimatization flights are performed in Belgium, as well as the IR-ME check to complete their CPL license.

The trainee completes his training with our Airline Career Preparation Program (ACPP) at the SFA training center in Brussels.

Program

The flight training consists of 3 stages;

First stage(USA):

  • basic training in a single-engine Piper Archer III
  • progress checks
  • the candidate has to opportunity to perform the checks for the FAA Private Pilot License

Second stage(USA):

  • advanced training in a Diamond 40
  • training in a twin-engine Diamond 42
  • instrument flying
  • synthetic trainer FNPTII (10 hours)

Third stage(BELGIUM):

  • final part of IR training in a Diamond 42
  • CPL-IR-ME test

During most of the training flights, one student will act as a pilot flying, a second one as an observer. This actually doubles the amount of hours spent in the air.

Medical insurance

During the complete training a special insurance will cover the loss of medical license leading to the reimbursement of the training in case of medical loss of license.

Simulator training: ACPP-MCC (Phase III)

Multi crew cooperation (MCC), basic jet flying and airline career preparation all-in-one!

When we developed our Airline Career Training Program we had three objectives in mind:

  • Comply with the requirements for a JAR-FCL MCC
  • Instruct and train basic jet flying techniques
  • Prepare the trainee for the next step in his career: the simulator evaluation session of the selection procedures for a job as First Officer at an airline.

Thus the focus of this training is not only on the non-technical aspects (CRM/MCC aspects) but also on the flying skills.

The ACPP-MCC course consists of:

  • 70 hours of theoretical knowledge training (classroom briefings, FMS (Flight Management System) training, CPT (Cockpit Procedure Training) and FBS (Fixed Base Simulator)) training?
  • A total of 28 hours of B737-300 or A320 full flight simulator including 3hr 40mins FFS evaluation session.

CRM debriefing

Our B737-300 simulator is equipped with a digital CRM debriefing camera, the ideal tool to analyze and debrief your performance in a multi-crew environment. The use of such a device is strongly recommended for this type of training. You will see yourself communicate, perform SOPs, take decisions, etc.

Job allocation service

As a member of SFA group, SFA-A has excellent contacts with many of the more than 80 airlines who have been training their pilots at SFA for many years. Often these contacts are the beginning of their pilot careers.

To support the cadet-pilots in finding their first First-Officer position several services are provided FREE OF CHARGE. These services are described below.

  • Candidate F/O-file
    Every graduating student receives a stylish booklet which contains a complete file in which he/she is presented to airline companies. This 20 page booklet gives a very clear overview of your training and your personal performance. After the content is approved by the student we will distribute this in our network and you will get copies to send to the airlines of your preference.

    The booklet includes the overview of your performance in all aspects of the training:
    • A general assessment based on observations during the training
    • A description of the SFA-A selection tests and results
    • A description of the theoretical results and personal evaluation by the Chief Ground Instructor
    • A description of the flight training and ACPP-MCC by the Head of Training
    • Medical license, pilot license...
  • Airline interview training
    The Sabena Flight Academy Africa wants to support every cadet-pilot as much as possible. During a selection process in an airline not only flying skills are important, but also the way you present yourself, how your CV looks like etc...
    To give candidate F/O's graduated from SFA-A as much chances as possible, 3 seminars are organised:
    • CV & interview training (3 hour session)
    • Group test assessment training (2 hour session)
    • Presentation of a training -and recruitment Captain of an airline (2 hour session)
  • Job allocation
    The SFA-A sales department will actively contact airline companies and scan the market in search of possibilities for the SFA-A graduates. After having your approval your file will be sent to every contacted company in our network (over 80 companies).