General
- Q: What are APC’s new AI-Powered Instructor Tools, PROJECT ORCA?
A: PROJECT ORCA is a new suite of AI-powered tools developed by Airline Pilot Club (APC) to support instructors and examiners in flight training and checking. Using ICAO’s Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) framework, PROJECT ORCA tools enable more efficient observation, recording, classification, and assessment of pilot competencies.
- Q: Why is APC launching this now?
A: The aviation industry faces rising training demand, instructor workload pressures, and regulatory emphasis on CBTA/EBT. PROJECT ORCA provides a standardized, data-driven solution to enhance training quality, improve consistency, and support faster pilot development.
For Instructors / Examiners
- Q: Does PROJECT ORCA replace the instructor?
A: No. Instructors remain in full control. PROJECT ORCA provides suggested assessments, which the instructor can accept, edit, or reject.
- Q: How does PROJECT ORCA help during a session?
A: PROJECT ORCA automatically records performance data, maps observable behaviors to ICAO competencies, and proposes CBTA scores (1–5) with pass/remedial/fail logic. This saves time, reduces subjectivity, and ensures consistent grading across sessions.
- Q: What about my own performance as an instructor?
A: PROJECT ORCA also supports instructor calibration. It evaluates key instructor behaviors in briefing, training, evaluation, and debriefing, helping ensure consistency and alignment with best practices.
- Q: Will PROJECT ORCA increase my workload?
A: Quite the opposite. By automating data capture and first-pass grading, PROJECT ORCA reduces administrative burden and allows instructors to focus more on teaching and mentoring.
For Airlines & Training Organizations (ATOs)
- Q: How does PROJECT ORCA integrate with existing systems?
A: PROJECT ORCA is designed to connect with most training management systems (TMS), learning management systems (LMS), and HR platforms through secure APIs.
- Q: What benefits can an airline or ATO expect?
A: Key benefits include:
– Consistency of grading across instructors and locations
– Evidence-based reporting for audits and regulator reviews
– Cost-efficient CBTA/EBT compliance
– Faster trainee progression and reduced training hours lost to inconsistency
– Enhanced instructor development and oversight
- Q: What is the timeline for rollout?
A: Following validation with partner airlines and ATOs, initial deployment is targeted for Q1 2026. Demonstrations can be arranged from late 2025.
For Regulators
- Q: How does PROJECT ORCA ensure regulatory compliance?
A: PROJECT ORCA is aligned with ICAO CBTA/EBT standards and provides transparent, auditable training records. Each assessment includes structured data on how many, how often, and how well observable behaviors were demonstrated.
- Q: Is the AI a “black box”?
A: No. Instructors and regulators can see how the AI mapped behaviors to competencies and how scoring decisions were calculated. Instructors always have final authority.
- Q: Will PROJECT ORCA reports be accepted in regulatory audits?
A: Yes. PROJECT ORCA produces structured, time-stamped reports with full traceability, designed to support regulators in oversight and audit processes.
For Pilots / Trainees
- Q: Does the AI decide whether I pass or fail?
A: No. PROJECT ORCA proposes assessments, but instructors retain final authority over pass/fail outcomes.
- Q: How does this affect me as a trainee?
A: You will receive clearer, evidence-based feedback including heat maps that highlight strengths and areas for improvement. This transparency can accelerate your development.
- Q: Will my personal data be safe?
A: Yes. All data is handled in compliance with GDPR and aviation data protection standards. Only authorized training staff and regulators will have access to your records.
Technology & Data
- Q: What kind of data does PROJECT ORCA capture?
A: PROJECT ORCA captures structured performance data (flight phases, exercises, observable behaviors), time-stamped instructor inputs, and—where authorized—audio/video streams for analysis.
- Q: How does the AI achieve accuracy?
A: PROJECT ORCA uses advanced pattern recognition to map pilot behaviors to ICAO competencies. Its assessments are validated against instructor inputs, with continuous improvement during test and deployment phases.
- Q: What is “advanced native AI audio and video analysis”?
A: “Advanced native AI audio and video analysis” refers to an innovative approach in which PROJECT ORCA processes audio and video data directly to assess various training situations. Unlike traditional methods that rely on converting spoken words into text, PROJECT ORCAskips this intermediate transcription step. This means the analysis is more direct and efficient, focusing on the raw audio and video signals.
PROJECT ORCA models scrutinize these signals to extract relevant cues without needing a human-readable transcript. The analysis targets acoustic features, speech patterns, interaction timing, and contextual markers, rather than just the words spoken. This approach allows PROJECT ORCA to detect behaviors, communication styles, workload stress cues, and procedural adherence even in noisy environments like simulators or aircraft.
For video, when enabled, PROJECT ORCA can recognize gestures, control inputs, instrument scan behavior, and crew coordination patterns. This comprehensive analysis provides a richer and more detailed understanding of the training events. The observations are then fed directly into PROJECT ORCA for pilot or instructor performance assessment, ensuring a seamless and thorough evaluation process.
- Q: How is bias prevented?
A: Instructors retain authority, all AI evaluations are explainable, and datasets are continuously checked to ensure fairness across genders, backgrounds, and training contexts.
Implementation & Next Steps
- Q: When will PROJECT ORCA be available?
A: Initial customer deployment is planned for Q1 2026 following validation in late 2025.
- Q: How can my organization get involved?
A: Airlines, training organizations, and regulators can request a demonstration and participate in the validation phase by contacting APC directly.