WANTED - Pilots to attend Emergency Training For Air Traffic Controllers

[TRUCE]

PPRuNe have kindly given their permission to post the following;

WANTED - Pilots to attend Emergency Training for Air Traffic Controllers

ATCOs at London Control Centre (Area & Terminal Control) Swanwick, are required to undertake emergency training each year to maintain their licences.This training is split between TRUCE (Training for Unusual Circumstances & Emergencies) & STAC (Scenario Training for Aircrew & Controllers).

TRUCE occurs in the afternoon & involves both classroom & practical simulator sessions; theses sessions are greatly enhanced by the presence of a Commercial Pilot. There will be an opportunity to visit the Ops room at Swanwick prior to the session.

STAC is a facilitated classroom session for Pilots & ATCOs. It is solely classroom based & uses some radar replays to enhance discussions. Discussions include how emergencies effect operations on the flight deck & in the Control Room. A greater understanding of each others requirements in these circumstances can lead to better handling of these events. The day usually concludes with Pilots visiting the Ops rooms.

We are able to offer sensible travel expenses and lunch will normally be provided.

We have put together a video to give you more of an idea of what to expect on the day.

The video is up here: https://vimeo.com/119533035 with the password “NATS”

I can not over emphasise how valued your attendance will be for the participants.

If you would like to receive more details, please email [email protected]. Please include an email address, brief details about you, who you fly for & what you fly, further details including dates will then be sent out.

[Starbear]

I attended a TRUCE day (at Prestwick) many years ago and would thoroughly recommend to any pilot. A very interesting, valuable and enjoyable day.

[l8starter]

I've been to a few sessions at Swanwick, and quite simply, they should be mandatory for all professional aircrew ! Everyone should badger their management to build in some time to the rosters to allow for a day for pilots to attend. Pilots would get more out of that one day, than the mind numbing hours doing the CBT, that passes for recurrent training these days - IMHO !

STAC is probably more beneficial to pilots, as it's a day of debate and discussion, directly with ATCO's. However, TRUCE uses pseudo-pilots, and is not only interesting (and also with the opportunity to listen in/contribute on the de-brief), but is also useful in being able to provide info about decision making processes, technical knowledge in specific aircraft, prioritising, checklist handling and flightdeck managent, and all the good stuff we do in our simulators etc etc etc.

I've been a professional aviatior for over 16 years, and wish that I had had the opportunity to have this kind of experience at the beginning of my career, rather than at the end, but even so, we never stop learning.

JUST DO IT !

You won't regret it, the grub's good too (airline caterers take note !), and not only will you be made to feel very welcome, but you will be also treated like a professional, and your opinion valued - which is quite a rare thing for pilots these days ! And you will be impressed !

[Grasscarp]

I too add my recommendation to attending this. It was interesting and enjoyable and they really need us (and of course we really need them!)

[Hotel Tango]

Boy, did I get the completely wrong idea from the subject title :O

[Jwscud]

I did it last year and will be doing it again his year. Wonderful opportunity all round.

[ask26]

Been to 3 over the last two years, also can't recommend enough.

[TRUCE]

Thank you for the fantastic response, we still need more Commercial Pilots....keep the enquiries coming...... [email protected]

[Pinky the pilot]

Wish they would do something similar in Australia.:ok:

[Trim Stab]

Boy, did I get the completely wrong idea from the subject title

Me too. I thought to myself, that's a good idea - how hard can it be lol!

[HDRW]

Drat! I'd love to take part in this, but I'm only a PPL (and when I can afford it, SLF). :sad:

Cheers,
Howard

[No Fly Zone]

Last I heard, the U.S. FAA has also started inviting a few commercial pilots to similar sessions on the west side of the pond. I do not know the details, but two ATPs known to me have raved about the experience and have been talking it up at every opportunity. Sounds like a good idea to me.:D

[zonoma]

As a controller that benefits from this advert/request, I can say just how fantastic the sessions are when pilots are in attendance. And that's not just for the NATS controllers, but the pilots themselves leave having learnt far more than they could imagine. Lots of banter, lots of fun, and lots of getting involved too.

[Landflap]

Interesting thread concerning the Delta B747 taking a beating from nasty CB activity shows the need for more of this inter-action . Terrific idea to get this on a world-wide basis and involve the Military Atcos' too. There appears to be a curious reluctance, by some, to recognise the fact that the bottom line for the safety of an aircraft rests with the Commander. Lots of meetings like this would be a huge boost to Air Safety. I'm away for the summer on limited funds otherwise I would attend.Keep up the excellent development.

[Hotel Tango]

Interesting thread concerning the Delta B747 taking a beating from nasty CB activity shows the need for more of this inter-action

Sure, but I just can't see this type of initiative being taken in China. And it does sound as if they (and their military) do require much more awareness of the need to allow commercial traffic to avoid CBs - without delay.

[OvertHawk]

Echo the comments about it being excellent. Attended a TRUCE session recently with controllers from the area I operate in regularly. Lots of "Ahhh so that's why you do that" and "I never knew about that" moments in both directions.

Well worth the time and effort - I shall be returning and am encouraging my colleagues.

OH

[TRUCE]

Any commercial pilots free to attend TRUCE on 14th, 22nd or 30th September 2015? Approx 2pm-8pm.


Please email [email protected]

[TRUCE]

We're looking for pilots to attend STAC (approx. 0900-1600) at Swanwick


Nov 5th, 9th, 13th, 27th


Dec 9th, 11th, 15th


email [email protected] if you'd like to come along.

[student88]

Recently attended TRUCE at LHR tower and found it an invaluable experience! Good to put faces to the voices too! :ok:

[Arfur Dent]

Do you accept retired pilots?

[TRUCE]

@ Arfur Dent, yes we do accept retired pilots.

[TRUCE]

NATS are currently looking for Commercial Pilots to attend STAC at Swanwick on the following dates;


March 8th, 10th, 16th & 22nd 2016


Lunch is provided, some travelling expenses covered & opportunity to visit Ops room.


Previous participants are welcome to attend again.


Contact [email protected]

[LlamaFarmer]

Unfortunately I am unable to make the above dates, but would very much like to attend one in future.

Would it be possible to allow more notice for future TRUCE dates, perhaps notifying the dates a few months in advance?

That way I might be able to convince rostering to give me the time off, or to process a leave request. From everyone I've spoken to who has attended, they say it is well worth it, so I'd happily use a day of leave if the company weren't willing to rearrange time in my roster.

[Basil]

I'd recommend a visit. It reminded me of when we combined flight deck and cabin crew Safety Equipment & Procedures training instead of doing it separately. We learned from each other.
Even as an ex RAF ATCO, it was interesting to be reminded that, for instance, an active front moving through substantially increases controller workload as aircraft deviate around Cb etc.

[Epic_name21]

This sound very intresting and I am wondering if I would be applicable to apply. I got my CPL a year ago and havent been successful in finding a job so far, so my experiance is limited to my flightschool time as well as an obtained 737 rating.

[TRUCE]

Dates for all our TRUCE & STAC (in BOLD) sessions for the remainder of the 2015/16 season;
March 2016
2nd, 4th, 8th, 8th, 10th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th,22nd, 22nd, 30th


April 2016
5th, 7th, 13th, 15th, 19th, 25th, 27th, 27th


May 2016
3rd, 5th, 11th, 13th, 19th, 25th


June 2016
8th, 30th

[TRUCE]

@epic_name21 please email [email protected] with more details of your flying experience.