The Office of the Associate Administrator for Airports (ARP) promotes the safe use and development of our nation’s system of airports. As a relatively small organization of approximately 600 personnel, the ARP has few people in a large number of technical occupations. In some cases, new employees must utilize dated training to become proficient, facing steep learning curves as they perform job tasks. In other cases, new employees learn to perform job tasks independently, through self-guided access to regulations and past communications. This, combined with regional nuances, has affected training consistency. The ARP offices we’ve worked with - the Office of Airport Planning and Programming, Office of Airport Safety and Standards, and the Office of Airport Compliance and Management Analysis—needed an updated, flexible training solution that would improve consistency in job performance and operations.
We conducted job task, needs, and gap analyses for several of functional areas within ARP. Using the results of the analyses, we’ve worked to develop or redevelop courses to meet the agency’s training needs. Training solutions have been and continue to be tailored to each occupation and use a combination of eLearning, OJT, and job aids to make sure content is up-to-date, relevant, and flexible. The client has been enthusiastic with the results and eager to continue updating its training offerings to improve consistency and job performance. A transition from face-to-face classroom-based instruction is often met with resistance and complaint. We’ve worked with the client to improve buy-in, create culture change, and promote a successful transition.
