What is Base Training?

Base training is completed at the end of the type rating and is the first time a pilot sits at the controls of the real aircraft (without any passengers onboard), where they will complete at least 6 take-offs and landings. They are flown as a circuit, so you take off and then complete 5 ‘touch and go’s’ (this is where you land but then immediately take off again without stopping) and then complete a ‘full stop’ landing for the final 6^th landing. It is a pass or fail flight as 6 of the take-offs and landings need to meet a certain level of proficiency in order to progress to your line training. Therefore, your instructor may require that you to do more than 6 landings in total in order to be satisfied that you meet the standard to move onto the next stage of training.

Prior to the base training, you will have completed a simulator session where you will practice the touch and go’s in a range of conditions, such as a headwind, crosswind and tail wind. This allows you to learn how to fly the jet in a circuit and perfect your landing technique. Whilst most people pass the base training first time, some trainees will need to complete the exercise again.

Base training typically takes around 1 hour to complete per pilot.

Weather Requirements for Base Training

The circuits are completed with visual reference to the runway and flown completely manually. You do not use the autopilot, autothrottle or flight directors. Therefore, to complete base training, the weather must be ‘visual meteorological conditions’ (therefore good visibility and a reasonable cloud base).

Any crosswind component can be present up to the limits of a junior First Officer. Some people will suggest that a brisk crosswind is a good idea, so you gain the confidence needed to land in such conditions during line operations.

Base training is quite expensive for the airline as they have to take an aircraft out of operational service for the day. Therefore the aircraft is typically used as efficiently as possible, with the exercise usually being carried out in groups.

Who is Base Training Completed With?

On the flight deck alongside you, there will be a very experienced and highly competent Captain, referred to as a ‘Training Captain’. The are only a small number of Training Captains who are certified to carry out base training, so you are in good hands. They understand that it’s a big day for you and will (hopefully!) try and make you feel as at ease as possible. They will provide you with a briefing for the day and set out their expectations. Throughout the exercise, they will probably provide you with a fair amount of verbal tuition initially, with the aim being that by the last landing, very little input is needed. They are on hand to provide a demonstration or intervene at the controls as require.

There will also be a ‘safety pilot’ onboard in the jump seat (this is a seat for a third pilot behind the central pedestal). The safety pilot is there to either take over from the captain or the trainee should there be an incapacitation or an emergency.

Base Training Tips:

• This should be one of the most exciting days of your flying career. You will likely have trained hard for several years to get your hands on a big commercial aircraft. You’ll probably be feeling a mixture of both nerves and excitement. Try and take in much as you can throughout the day, get some photos to remember it, but stay focussed on putting in a good performance.
• You’ll likely have been doing this for much of your flight training, but armchair fly the circuit again and again. If you know how to fly the circuit like the back of your hand, such as what speed and configuration to be in at any given point, you will have greater capacity to concentrate on the take-off and landing techniques.
• Embrace the day and don’t fear the weather. You might be hoping for a nice calm day without much wind, but if it does turn out to be a bit breezy, embrace it. This is a great opportunity to sit next to an extremely experienced Captain and become confident with the aircraft in the conditions presented on the day. If it happens to be a bit bumpy and windy, this will undoubtedly boost your confidence.