Checkout Criteria

StuSEL Trusted Member West Lafayette, IN

What are the criteria facilities use to determine when a "trainee" can officially become a "controller?" For instance, the FAA sets forth practical test standards for each pilot rating. We have to be able to demonstrate, for instance, recovery from a stall, takeoff and landing, etc. Is there a similar facility-dependent or national syllabus for controllers? What about private contract towers?

Genot Senior Member A Dark Dark Room

In the FAA world I know a syllabus of sorts exists (unsure if its local or national or even required), but I've never seen it marked off or even addressed in training. Its basically can the trainee show consistently over a period of time that they can handle the busiest traffic levels they'll likely see on that position in an acceptable manner. By acceptable manner I don't just mean not have an error, but also not over separate to an intolerable degree. ie 8 miles when you need 2.5.

Once the OJTIs and the Dev/CPC-ITs supervisor agree, then its time for a certification check ride with a supervisor. Pass the ride and you're certified.

I mean its pretty non standard in ATC compared to flying and you can't really pin down exact things to know. In an airplane you can have maneuvers done within tolerance, engine out procedures, short/soft fields etc and really mark off and simulate to a high degree anything you want. You can't really simulate an emergency or 110% traffic in real life in ATC because if it isn't there, well, it just isn't there, so a hard and fast syllabus just won't cut it.

mikefsfr Senior Analyst Train Me.

Certification requirements- demonstrates ability to work moderate and routine traffic under general supervision.

Actual requirements- please all the dinosaurs in your facility and go through hell.

Airforceone Rookie ZTL

Work busy pushes and not eff it up. While your trainer and Sup is plugged in. Thing is usually only you and your trainer know whats going on...

StuSEL Trusted Member West Lafayette, IN

This brings up one other question. Are the "checkrides" simulated or done on the actual position? Or are they done over a series of days in the event one of them is a slow day or something?

This is what I figured. It's hard to identify those outlier-type situations in ATC.

lol

irishatc Junior Member

Checkrides are done on live traffic.

UNDgrad06 Senior Analyst Memphis, TN

There are check rides in the simulator environment as well. At least in a Center perspective. Probably not the same at all centers, but here you are in class upstairs 3 months and run about 30 problems with two check rides up there before you come to the floor to train on live traffic. More and more people seem to be getting washed out upstairs lately.

Airforceone Rookie ZTL

Yup thats how our R school is...few fail out of it though

mbalunda Epic Member

Checkrides are done during live traffic sessions. There are times where you'll sit down with a Sup and traffic never develops, so you'll do another session later. On my last radar checkride my Sup sat down with me and was like "I plan on sitting down with you a few sessions today to watch you. I expect to see blah, blah, and blah. So don't be discouraged when we sit down together a couple of times" After my first session in the AM he just unplugged and walked away and was like you're on your own, if you can handle that I don't need to see anything else, congrats. It's not like being a pilot where you can simulate certain situations. They do their best in the labs, but there is only so much you can cover.

There are also graded problems in the lab before you ever get to the floor. At my center there were 6(3 D-side, 3 Radar) graded problems. They were all pass fail type problems, so just like the old PV in OKC. If you failed the first time around you got a retake, but if you were to fail the retake you'd be terminated. I haven't seen or heard of anyone failing out of training upstairs at my facility though, at least not anyone since I've been here for about 2.5 years.

mjh55404 Senior Analyst OKC

This varies greatly from facility to facility....

Some facilities wash out as many as possible in the labs. The idea is that any time on the floor is a waste if they do not feel in DYSIM that you will certify. Other facilities feel that over time people will gain the skills and experience to get it.

ZOA just lost 8 of the last group of 12 in the DYSIM lab....then we loose another 50% once they get to the floor.