Course Overview
This training course is designed to meet the needs of Industry and Regulatory Authorities who require highly competent auditors equipped with the necessary skills to undertake meaningful and effective audits across a wide range of activities and involving a variety of specialisms. Auditors are required, therefore, to not only possess the appropriate technical competence but also to have the necessary interpersonal qualities and the ability to plan and execute audits within a range of domains, to lead teams of auditors and to undertake searching and in-depth audits in challenging environments and situations. Additionally, management will need to ensure cost-effective process management and improvement techniques in pursuit of organisational excellence, in addition to regulatory compliance, and hence, auditors will also need to be able to operate in the domain of management systems improvement and business excellence.
This practical and participative five-day course is designed to supplement the standard range of auditor training courses, including ISO 9001-based Lead Auditor training, and sets out to enhance the skills of those managing and undertaking audits in the aviation industry, in particular focusing on team leadership skills. It is provided in support of the Management Systems and Compliance Monitoring requirements of current and future European Legislation relating to the aviation industry, and the desire of organisations to obtain the maximum benefit from auditing in the proactive pursuit of safety & organisational improvement.
This is a unique course provided by trainers who have considerable experience in the conduct of audits of large organisations involving multi-disciplined audit teams. The course builds upon current international audit best practices, adapted to suit regulatory organisations who are required to undertake safety regulatory oversight or aviation organisations who conduct audits of potential or existing major suppliers, contractors, code-share partners, etc.
After attending this course participants should have a better understanding of the overall principles of auditing and audit application in support of the achievement of safety and corporate objectives together with the improved knowledge & skills that will facilitate their ability to develop risk based audit programmes and plan, conduct & report audits of organisations against regulatory management system requirements, company requirements, contractual requirements, code share arrangements etc. working alone or leading multi-disciplined audit teams.
Participants will be well placed to support their organisation and enhance their career prospects through the use of a range of audit support tools and methodologies.
(Note: This course is not specific to any one regulation or aviation domain. It is fully applicable to all aviation auditing/compliance monitoring activities.
Course Dates
| Year | Days | Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15th - 19th | December |
| 2026 | 3rd - 6th | March |
| 2026 | 8th - 12th | June |
This course is delivered in a virtual training room via Zoom. Please get in touch with us if you require in-person training.
Course Topics
The course adopts a Modular structure, addressing the following key subjects:
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM & COMPLIANCE MONITORING PRINCIPLES
- The EU Regulatory requirements for management systems & compliance monitoring
- Key principles of process design, management & improvement
IMPROVING AUDIT PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
- Auditing in relation to process based management systems
- Developing Audit programmes using a Risk based audit strategy
- Auditing as an integral part of supplier management
- Key principles of supplier capability evaluation & safety oversight
IMPROVING TEAM LEADERSHIP SKILLS
- Effective Assessment and Audit Planning
- Audit Team Selection
- Audit Management Skills
- Relative Roles & Responsibilities of Auditors & Team Leaders
- Managing Audit Entry & Exit meetings
- Ensuring Effective Auditor Team Meetings
- Evaluating and Quantifying Audit Results
- Audit Report Writing
IMPROVING THE AUDIT PROCESS & AVOIDING SUPERFICIAL AUDITING
- Developing and improving auditor competence
- Advanced audit planning, the development and use of Check Lists
- Handling the complexities of SMS audits
- Advanced techniques for verification of compliance
- Auditing for process effectiveness
- Auditing in relation to prescriptive & non-prescriptive requirements
- Objective recording and reporting of audit results
IMPROVING THE PRO-ACTIVE RESPONSE TO AUDIT FINDINGS
- Managing the Remedial & Corrective Action processes
- Tools & techniques for Root Cause Analysis
- Improving the effectiveness of Audit close out, follow up and on-going surveillance
Who Should Attend
This course is designed to assist auditors operating in the aviation industry to develop their competence to undertake complex audit tasks in support of regulatory compliance and business objectives, and so enhance their personal and career development opportunities. It is designed to be of particular benefit to Senior Audit staff and those required to manage and work in audit teams in the conduct of internal audits, audits of suppliers, subcontractors or franchisees/code shares, etc. and also for those who work for Competent Authorities / regulatory organisations. It is suited to those who undertake Compliance Monitoring audits in relation to Flight and Ground Operations, Airport Operations, Maintenance and maintenance management (Part M), Training Organisations, Air Traffic Management, and Design & Production (Part 21) Organisations and Defence organisations involved in aviation-related activities.
In particular:
- Flight operations compliance monitoring/audit staff
- Maintenance Audit staff
- Auditor undertaking audits in aviation companies and their contractors
- Defence personnel required to undertake audits of contracted organisations
- Compliance Monitoring staff
- Regulatory personnel undertaking Oversight audits in relation to aviation organisations
Learning Objectives
After attending this course, participants will be able to return to their organisations with new ideas and approaches to undertaking complex and comprehensive audits in relation to a range of activities in support of their organisations’ regulatory and business objectives, working individually or in multi-disciplined teams. Participants will be well placed to support their organisation and enhance their career prospects through the use of a range of audit support tools and methodologies.
In particular, by the end of the training course, delegates should have:
- A better understanding of the overall principles of auditing and audit application in support of the achievement of safety and corporate objectives, and the verification of process effectiveness.
- Improved knowledge & skills that will facilitate their ability to develop risk based audit programmes in line with European aviation regulations for Competent Authorities.
- Improved knowledge & skills to plan, conduct & report audits of organisations against regulatory management system requirements using the principles of ISO 19011 and the guidance contained within ICAO Doc 9734, working alone or leading multi-disciplined audit teams, and including;
- The ability to plan, undertake and report an audit of a specified process of an Aviation organisation.
- The ability to categorise audit findings and to evaluate the results of an audit visit to identify process weaknesses and quantify future risk.
- An understanding of the difference between the audit remedial and corrective action processes, including the understanding of the importance of root cause determination.
- The ability to verify the effectiveness of corrective actions in response to audit findings.
Certificate awarded – ‘Participants who attend full time will receive a certificate attendance’.
Prerequisites
Audit experience in relation to aviation related activities, gained by undertaking audits as an individual or working as part of a team. This course is designed as an advanced auditor training course for those who have already had some practical experience of auditing in an aviation environment. It is suitable for those who have previously attended compliance monitoring or auditor training courses, including Aviation Lead Auditor or ISO 9001 based Lead Auditor training courses.
Register Your Interest
Complete the form to register your interest in this course and we will be in touch.