CTI Basics Refresher

atcBOB Rookie

AS a CTI student waiting for so long to get to the academy, how much of what we learned at CTI school are we expected to remember? Is there a quick refresher course or do they just jump in to terminal or en route training right away? Any good resources to help review some of the basics before we go?

JosueZQ8 Trusted Contributor Amherst, OH

I often wonder the same thing. I thought I read on here, that if you get picked up from a CTI announcement, you skip basics out at the Acadamy.

If that's the case, I will just be reviewing all my CTI texts and notes.

BoomerSooner77 I am rubber, you're glue. Plano, TX

Someone currently in enroute told me that the beginning of initial is a rehash of basics, so a review of sorts apparently catering to CTI folks who may have had a gap would be my thought.

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

A lot of people are reading more into this. It's understandable since it's an unknown for most. Once you get to terminal or center training, it'll all come back to you. When I got to the academy, I hadn't controlled for over a year and hadn't done bookwork for 5 yrs. You'll get into the groove pretty quick and it'll all come back. It's boring bookwork at first anyway. Don't sweat it.

djmodifyd Unregistered

the academy is easy
the classroom is basic stuff and they cover it very well

don't sweat it

CL4TKoff Trusted Member Sunny South Florida

It's been a while for me since CTI school also, so I made a personal goal to review all of the material and re-read the chapters pertaining to ATC so I don't make myself look retarded in OKC.

I don't fly or work in the Aviation industry at all, actually I work in the Medical field, so all the abbreviations that I see every day pertain to medical stuff. ALS in my mind right now is "Advanced Life Support" while it should be "Approach Lighting System".
I am a little rusty with the detail stuff, like the minimums for VFR/SVFR/IFR. all that good stuff, aircraft categories by approach speed, weight classes, etc.

A little self-refresher can only help.

noid Curtis E. Carr Jawja

Whatever you need to make yourself comfortable, go for it. You want to be relaxed going in. Just know that it starts off pretty basic. I kept hearing the CTI people saying..."we just went over this....this is just like CTI school". No need to worry about it, it'll all come back to ya. Best of luck!

bippoptl Newcomer Long Island, NY

the beginning is definately not a rehash of basics at all. you start learning strips from day one, and the map..we got a 45 minute lesson on strips on the last day of basics. there was no rehashing at all. i know a few cti people who were out for a while and they struggle through Non Radar, but by the time radar comes around they do fine.

Stan Marsh Senior Member The Desert

I just finished the classroom portion of a CTI/VRA class a few weeks ago. On the terminal option, they go and rehash a lot of the ATC basics stuff. A lot of the stuff is also integrated into the training so you'll remember it once you start doing again. As far as en route...who knows, but I hope you like the dark

MTCTIGUY Trusted Contributor The 'Boro

This is probably stupid, but pan am academy is apparently offering a CTI refresher course. Courses/Schedule, Air Traffic Control School - Pan Am Flight Academy - Airline Training(Scroll to very bottom) Personally, I don't think anyone would really need this unless you've been out of school for a while and forgot everything.