Abstract:

Airport ground operations cover all activities required to service an aircraft while it is on the ground after arrival from a flight and before its next departure. Ground operations are expected to be the fastest growing sub-sector of aviation in the next ten years. A short-term insight states that by 2022 the ground operations sector will have to find additional 83 000 employees to accommodate anticipated cargo and passenger volume growth. For employers the high pace of growth means increasing training demands to be able to meet the strict competence requirements of operational staff. Aviation industry generally suffers from high staff turnover which makes the maintenance of competences increasingly difficult. Workers typically work in two to three shifts and the pace of work is intense. This is why application of traditional training methods - face to face or online - is particularly challenging in this field. In ground operations the requirements for competences of new employees is very high, meaning that new recruits typically take weeks of training before they can even start working. Training continues on-the-job for four to six weeks depending on work role. Updates to competences and review of compliancy trainings are also required frequently. AirportCollege is a private online training academy established in 2012 to serve the global aviation industry with flexible online training solutions.

This study focusses on a couple of pilot projects where micro-modular mobile training modules were developed for airport ground operations companies for staff training. The study examines the benefits and advantages of micro-modular learning design through experiences gained in the field and by mirroring these experiences with research literature in mobile learning and micro-modular learning design. Specific focus is put on how the structural design of courses using micro-modularity can enhance the flexibility and user experience during training that takes place in the flow of work.

Keywords:

Micro-modules, online training, aviation, learning design, instructional design, compliance, workplace-based training.