In early 2014, the Aeroflap team had the opportunity to visit GOL's Training Center located in Diadema. The entire structure was inside a shed, including the 3 Boeing 737 NG simulators and the classrooms for the crew, but the location was a weak point, it was far from the main airports in São Paulo.
So GOL decided to move part of the Training Center to its headquarters in Congonhas, and at the end of October the Aeroflap team was able to make a complete visit to the site.
Right at the entrance, our team was faced with a large istrative structure, different from the previous location, the new Training Center is located in the “mess” of the second busiest airport in Brazil, in addition to being in the same place where the “brain” is located at GOL, the istrative center, a few meters from the Training Center is the president's office, and behind the maintenance hangars listed as category 1.
With an area of 900 m², the Training Center was designed so that, upon entering, the employee feels like he is in one of the company's aircraft. Details range from the windows in the corridors to the ceiling with lighting that recalls the interior sky configuration.
Arriving at the Training Center, after a brief walk around the site, we find the nose of the 737, as shown in the photo featured in this article.
The entrance hall is well decorated and has several computers for access by GOL crew , there is also a screen showing the on-site training schedule.
rooms and auditorium
GOL's training center has several classrooms, where the company's crew receive theoretical training, essential for
As mentioned above, note the details of the windows, which are similar to those installed on the company's aircraft. The place is fully air-conditioned and is always set at a pleasant temperature.
There are seven classrooms, one of which is equipped with computers for International Air Traffic (IAT) and e-learning training.
The auditorium has more than 100 seats, it is a way for the company to gather crew for t training, in order to show all the details of a safety procedure on board, such as fighting fires, medical assistance and enger service .
This last location is a complement to the full-size mockup, where crew can test everything from safety procedures to standardization of customer service.
training cycle
Photos 1 and 2 – GOL/Disclosure
After ing GOL's selection process, the flight attendant or pilot is directed to the company's Training Center, as a way to improve their learning in their area of expertise and standardize procedures.
To be called by GOL, the candidate must have knowledge of the English language (from intermediate level – conversation), complete secondary education and beyond the certifications, considered mandatory for participation in the selection process for the vacancy. They are they the CMA - Aeronautical Medical Certificate, CCT - Technical Capacity Certificate or CHT - Technical Qualification Certificate, if you have already exercised the function in another airline operator. In case of foreign nationality, it is necessary to have a valid RNE – National Registry of Foreigners and to be naturalized Brazilian, in accordance with the country's legislation.
commissioner
The flight attendant who has just ed GOL spends 189 hours in the classroom receiving theoretical classes, and 30 hours on route being supervised. After working at the company, the flight attendant undergoes a “retraining course” every year, yielding another 32 hours of learning.
cabin chief
A cabin chief is chosen by the company from the existing staff.
Whenever there is a need to increase the number of Chiefs of Cabinet, a notice is issued to the group containing the vacancy requirements and inviting them to . After enrollment, candidates go through stages such as behavioral profile analysis, technical and psychological evaluation.
Candidates with the longest time with the company who these three stages participate in ground training, specific to the new function, and in-flight monitoring.
For Flight Instructors and Examiners, the Chief Cabinet Officers are invited according to their seniority in the function and also go through the steps described above.
Pilots
Pilots go through a different training system than flight attendants. They use a simulator to face situations that can happen on a real flight, including emergencies. This is an efficient way to carry out in practice and safely the procedures capable of preventing an accident.
Before going through the simulator, the pilots receive theoretical training on the ground, which takes place at this training center in Congonhas.
Pilots who have just ed the company do 10 sessions in the simulator, after theoretical training. The pilots who are in annual recycling complete 4 sections in the simulator.
Even before the simulator, GOL has equipment where the pilot can practice other basic procedures on an aircraft, such as checklists and the first recognition of the commands on the 737, essential for those who have not yet had their first with the aircraft.
These equipment, arranged in the form of a or mockup, help to assimilate the controls of an airplane, and make simulator time available for those who really need it. That way no one is left without training.
Inside the simulator it is possible to find a full-size cockpit, surrounded by a projection system that provides images from the simulation software to the pilots, an instructor is located just behind the captain and copilot seat, it has its own screen that can submit commands to the software and change flight conditions, such as simulating an engine failure without warning or changing the weather at the destination airport to simulate a no-visibility condition.
The simulators are equipped with D-type Full Motion simulation technology, with full motion engine. Motion technology helps the pilot to obtain sensory information each time a control surface is engaged, as well as perceive changes in engine power and bank angles.
In all, GOL has three simulators of this type available, unfortunately they are not located in Congonhas, as they demand even more space.
GOL currently has 1551 pilots, 2577 flight attendants and 15277 employees.
The Training Center can receive 400 employees per day, a number well above the number of crew who train on site per month.
Full size mockup
The mockup is well suited to the training of flight attendants at GOL, where practical and theoretical training, such as first aid, depressurization, firefighting, evacuation and jumping on the slide, is carried out.
This location also receives other training, such as on-board service practices, standards and procedures, among others. It is a way of standardizing service among the company's 2577 flight attendants.
The fuselage was installed in the training center by a company specialized in large-scale services, according to GOL, it is derived from a WebJet Boeing 737-300, so much so that there are only two emergency windows on the sides.
Inside, you can see the same standard as GOL's aircraft, with the company's seats and even the safety equipment. A cabin handles emergency situations, such as smoke on board and aircraft lights.
A dummy located inside, and shown in the photos, serves to simulate a real enger rescue situation on board.
Watch the full video article below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wylr7_rxE0
See how an onboard smoke training is performed in the auditorium (currently performed in the full-size mockup):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyaiASG_qPg&t=168s
