ATCO (Air Traffic Control Officer) initial training involves a comprehensive program designed to equip trainees with the necessary skills and knowledge for air traffic management. The training process generally includes:
Classroom Instruction: Trainees learn the theoretical aspects of air traffic control, including aviation regulations, communication protocols, and navigation systems.
Simulator Training: Trainees practice in realistic air traffic control simulation environments, allowing them to develop their practical skills in a controlled setting.
On-the-Job Training: Following simulator training, trainees usually undergo on-the-job training under the supervision of experienced controllers. This phase helps them apply their knowledge in real-world situations.
Assessment and Evaluation: Throughout the training program, trainees are assessed to ensure they meet the necessary competency standards before advancing to operational positions.
Continuous Learning: Even after initial training, air traffic controllers must engage in ongoing professional development to stay updated with regulations and technologies.
Need more information or request a quote from us. Just click here
Courses
The Basic ATC course gives students a foundation-level of knowledge of the Air Traffic Controller job and the complete Air Traffic Management (ATM) system. It is the first course in Air Traffic Control students’ Initial Training: passing this course enables them to progress further onto Rating Training courses.
After completing this course, the students:
- Have knowledge, skills, and understanding in accordance with the Eurocontrol training objectives.
- Have practiced skills within the tower, approach and area air traffic control (ATC) environments.
- Have knowledge of the importance of teamwork and of human factors related issues
that can affect personal and team performance.
Course structure:
The standard course takes approx. 45 days (9 weeks). The first 3-4 weeks of the course focus on theoretical knowledge and team-building activities. After the theoretical part, the students apply their knowledge in the practical simulator training which is divided into phases. Each phase has a different focus, including Skills, Basic APS, Basic ADC and Basic ACS.
Theoretical training
We deliver the theoretical part of the course through a blend of classroom training, group work, discussions and hands-on training. Throughout the course, eLearning elements allow a flexible learning environment as students can participate in these lessons online. During the theoretical training, the students develop teamwork skills that help them perform during the practical training in the simulator.
Simulator training
The practical skills training is considered theoretical training with the aim to reinforce theory and to put theoretical knowledge into a more practical context. The practical skills training provides greater awareness of why definitions, separation methods, rules, and regulations are designed as they are. It allows a smooth transition from theoretical training into practical training.
Content in brief:
The course covers topics such as, but not limited to:
- Meteorology
- Rules of the air.
- Human factors.
- Military aviation.
- Equipment and systems.
- Airspace managements.
- Environmental protection.
- Regulatory role.
- Safety management systems.
- Familiarisation to Tower, Approach, co-operation between TWR and APP units, and co-operation between ACC and APP.
- Study visit to a control tower and area control centre.
- Handling of departing and arriving IFR and VFR traffic to and from the aerodrome.
- IFR and VFR traffic crossing the TMA.
- Managing coordination with adjacent sectors.
The course is compliant with Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/340 and (EU) 2024/893
ADC (Aerodrome Control) rating training is part of the overall training program for air traffic controllers who will primarily work in aerodrome control environments, managing the safe and efficient flow of air traffic at airports.
Course aim
This course gives students the knowledge and skills they need to work as Air Traffic Controllers in a Tower environment. Additionally, they develop a further and more specific understanding of the complete Air Traffic Management system.
This course can either be part of students’ Initial Training or a further Rating Training for licenced Air Traffic Controllers. Students who pass the course may apply for a Student Air Traffic Controller Licence.
After completing this course, the students will be able to manage air traffic to ensure safe, orderly and expeditious service in an ADC environment and have knowledge of the importance of teamwork and human factors-related matters that can affect personal and team performance.
Course structure and key components:
The standard course takes approximately 10 weeks. After the theoretical part, the students apply their knowledge in the practical simulator training divided into multiple phases. Each phase has a different focus, for example: skills, basic aerodrome control with low traffic, medium traffic, focus on VFR, split between ground and tower controller, etc.
Theoretical Learning:
Trainees study subjects such as aerodynamics, airport layout, airspace structure, weather impacts, and regulations specific to aerodrome operations.
We deliver the theoretical part of the course through a blend of classroom training, group work, and discussions. Throughout the course, eLearning elements allow a flexible learning environment as students participate in these lessons online.
Simulator training:
This includes practical exercises using simulators to practice managing aircraft movements on the ground and during takeoff and landing. This stage develops skills in communication, coordination, and situational awareness.
We conduct the practical simulator training in a generic airspace. In the first step of simulator training, the students practice individual skills as mentioned under ‘content in brief’. In the second step of simulator training, the students practice their skills in exercises where we gradually introduce more traffic, new elements (like unusual and emergency events), and more complex situations.
Examinations and Assessments:
Throughout the ADC rating training, trainees must pass various milestones & assessments, including written exams, practical evaluations in simulators, and performance evaluations in different and complex operational scenarios.
Certification:
Once trainees successfully complete all aspects of their training and evaluations, they receive their certificate, allowing them to apply for student controller license.
Content in brief
The course covers topics such as, but not limited to:
- VFR and IFR start-ups, departures, and arrivals.
- Application of different types of separation methods.
- Aerodrome Control procedures with and without surveillance.
- Normal aerodrome control procedures with IFR and VFR traffic.
- Cooperation between ground and tower positions.
- Unusual and/or emergency situations.
Prerequisites
- Completion of Basic or equivalent.
- English language skills at ICAO level 4 or higher.
The course is compliant with Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/340 & (EU) 2023/893
APS (Approach Control Surveillance) rating is an advanced rating for air traffic controllers that qualifies them to provide approach control services. This rating focuses on managing aircraft as they transition from en-route to terminal airspace, particularly during descent, approach, and landing phases.
Course aim
This course gives students the knowledge and skills they need to work as Air Traffic Controllers in an Approach Control Surveillance environment. Additionally, they develop a further and more specific understanding of the complete Air Traffic Management system.
This course can either be part of students’ Initial Training or a further Rating Training for active Air Traffic Controllers. Students who pass the course may apply for an APS Student ATCO License.
After completion of this course, the students:
- Have the necessary skills to perform Approach Control Radar Service in an approach control environment safely, expeditiously, and orderly, as well as according to rules and regulations.
- Have knowledge of the importance of teamwork and of human factors-related matters that can affect personal and team performance.
Course structure
The standard course takes approximately 12 weeks.
Theoretical training
Trainees study advanced concepts related to approach procedures, radar operations, airspace management, and traffic sequencing. Understanding various approach methods, including standard and non-standard approaches, is crucial. We deliver the theoretical part of the course through a blend of classroom training, group work, and discussions. Throughout the course, eLearning elements allow a flexible learning environment as students participate in these lessons online.
Simulator training
APS training includes extensive use of simulators where candidates practice handling complex traffic scenarios in terminal areas using radar and other technologies.
We conduct the practical simulator training in a generic airspace. In the first step of simulator training, the students practice individual skills to prepare themselves for exercises in a TMA. Examples of these skills are: techniques concerning right and left turns, speed control when sequencing traffic inbound, and the skill of feeding aircraft in and out of a holding.
In the second step of simulator training, the students practice their skills in exercises where we gradually introduce more traffic, new elements (like unusual and emergency events), and more complex situations.
Examinations and Assessments:
Throughout the APS rating training, trainees must pass various milestones & assessments, including written exams, practical evaluations in simulators, and performance evaluations in different and complex operational scenarios.
Certification:
Once trainees successfully complete all aspects of their training and evaluations, they receive their certificate, allowing them to apply for student controller license.
Content in brief
The course covers topics such as, but not limited to:
- Rules and methods for radar vectoring, sequencing, separations, phraseology, and co-ordinations used in an approach service.
- Rules and methods for handling VFR flights.
- Rules and methods for change of runway.
- Rules and methods using only primary radar.
- Rules and methods for handling of transponder failure, communication failure, ACAS, special weather phenomena, and LVP.
- Methods and handling of arriving, departing and overflying traffic in a correct, safe and orderly way.
- Approach methods, for example: ILS, NDB, SRE, VA.
- Correct methods for the sequencing of traffic.
- Unusual and/or emergency situations.
Prerequisites
- Completion of Basic or equivalent.
- English language skills at ICAO level 4 or higher.
The course is compliant with Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/340 (EU) 2023/893
An ACS Rating in aviation refers to the Area control surveillance (ACS) Rating, a qualification granted to air traffic controllers that allows them to manage and coordinate air traffic within a designated en-route airspace.
Course aim
This course gives students the knowledge and skills they need to work as Air Traffic Controllers in an ACS environment. Additionally, they develop a further and more specific understanding of the complete Air Traffic Management system. This course can either be part of students’ Initial Training or a further Rating Training for active Air Traffic Controllers. Students who pass the course may apply for an ACS Student ATCO License.
After completion of this course, the students:
Have the necessary skills to perform the Area Control Radar Service safely, expeditiously, and in accordance with rules and regulations.
Have knowledge of the importance of teamwork and of human factors-related matters that can affect personal and team performance.
Course structure
The standard course takes approximately 14 weeks. It is possible to add more weeks if the ACS environment requires it. Please contact us to discuss your students’ specific training needs.
The focus of the first course week is theoretical knowledge and team-building activities. From the second week onwards, students apply their knowledge in the practical simulator training.
Throughout this training, we come back to theory to deepen the students’ knowledge, discuss what they learned from challenges in the exercises, re-cap the theory that is covered, or add a new theory element that has not yet been covered.
Theoretical training
We deliver the theoretical part of the course through a blend of classroom training, group work, and discussions. Throughout the course, e-learning elements allow a flexible learning environment as students can participate in these lessons online. During the theoretical training, the students develop teamwork skills that help them perform in the practical training in the simulator.
Simulator training
We conduct the practical simulator training in a generic airspace. During the training, we gradually add new elements such as the planner position, weather, turbulences, and technical restrictions, so the students have enough time to get accustomed to all the tasks they need to perform.
In the first step of simulator training, the focus lies on working in a single-man environment and developing personal skills. In the second step, students learn to work with each other in a single sector in executive and planning controller roles. In the last step, we combine sectors, adding a new dimension where the students work together intra-sector as well as inter-sector. Throughout the steps, we apply reasonable increases in traffic amounts and complexity.
Examinations and Assessments:
Throughout the APS rating training, trainees must pass various milestones & assessments, including written exams, practical evaluations in simulators, and performance evaluations in different and complex operational scenarios.
Certification:
Once trainees successfully complete all aspects of their training and evaluations, they receive their certificate, allowing them to apply for student controller license.
Content in brief
The course covers topics such as, but not limited to:
- Vectoring and Holding.
- Speed Control.
- Aircraft Performance and Limitations.
- Conflict Solving Techniques.
- Unusual and/or emergency situations.
- General ACS traffic: airspace regulations, procedures, conflict areas, etc.
- Mach number technique and turbulence.
- Decoding and using meteorological information.
- Overflights at the same time with the possibility of holding and sequence.
- Cooperation between Executive and Planner, task delegation between the positions.
- Human factors.
- System degradation.
Prerequisites
- Completion of Basic course or equivalent.
- English language skills of ICAO level 4 or higher.
The course is compliant with Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/340 & (EU) 2023/893
An APP Rating in aviation refers to the Approach Control procedural (APP) Rating, a qualification granted to air traffic controllers that allows them to provide approach control services.
Course aim
This course gives students the knowledge and skills they need to work as Air Traffic Controllers in an Approach Control Procedural environment. Additionally, they develop a further and more specific understanding of the complete Air Traffic Management system.
This course can either be part of students’ Initial Training or a further Rating Training for active Air Traffic Controllers. Students who pass the course may apply for an APP Student ATCO License.
After completion of this course, the students:
- Have skills to perform the Approach Procedural Control Service in an approach control procedural environment safely, efficiently, orderly, and according to rules and regulations.
- Have knowledge of the importance of teamwork and of human factors related matters that can affect personal and team performance.
Course structure
The standard course takes 4 weeks. It consists of approximately 3 days of theory followed by practical training in the simulator. The theoretical training mainly covers procedural separations, as well as reviews and enhancements of subjects from the Basic ATC and ADI/APS courses. These reviews and enhancements are related to approach control services such as meteorology, navigation, aircraft, aerodromes, and human factors.
Theoretical training
We deliver the theoretical part of the course through a blend of classroom training, group work, and discussions. Throughout the course, eLearning elements allow a flexible learning environment as students participate in these lessons online.
Simulator training
We conduct the practical simulator training in a generic airspace. The exercises are divided into sets, to allow the students to slowly develop their approach procedural skills.
The students first practice vertical, longitudinal, and lateral VOR separations without using SIDs and STARs. Then, they practice vertical and horizontal separations including holding and unusual/emergency situations, now with the use of SIDs and STARs. Further on, we add extra complications in IFR scenarios, including missed approaches, visual approaches, and training flights.
Examinations and Assessments:
Throughout the APP rating training, trainees must pass various milestones & assessments, including written exams, practical evaluations in simulators, and performance evaluations in different and complex operational scenarios.
Certification:
Once trainees successfully complete all aspects of their training and evaluations, they receive their certificate, allowing them to apply for student controller license.
Content in brief
The course covers topics such as, but not limited to:
- Reviews and enhancements of subjects from the Basic ATC and ADI/APS courses related to approach control services such as meteorology, navigation, aircraft, aerodromes, and human factors.
- Vertical and horizontal separations, with and without using SIDs and STARs
- Unusual and/or emergency situations.
- Complications in IFR scenarios (for example missed approaches, visual approaches, and training flights).
Prerequisites
- Completion of our Basic course or equivalent.
- Completion of either our APS course or our ADC course.
- English language skills of ICAO level 4 or higher.