Air Traffic Control Training Around the World
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Canada
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The FAA environment is a joke. A two grade scale? Good work boys. Set us back a couple of decades. Actually, I would like to work a 5-****in'-2 just so I could live in the cesspool of Southern California....Yeehaw!
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: in a world of my own
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Oops! It wasn't my intention to open up the festering wounds of industrial relations - sorry!
I realise things aren't wonderful for the FAA guys, and it is rather enlightening to read some of your examples. However, while the issue of trainee salaries - and the attitudes fostered among the trainees - is clearly current, I was attempting to find out a bit more about the training process itself.
Above the 49th parallel, we get only the figures. To us, it looks like you have an enviable success rate. It seems that (as much as there are issues) something in the training process works for you. So I guess we are looking for the good ideas which make that happen, with the intention of adapting them to improve our own training system.
I realise things aren't wonderful for the FAA guys, and it is rather enlightening to read some of your examples. However, while the issue of trainee salaries - and the attitudes fostered among the trainees - is clearly current, I was attempting to find out a bit more about the training process itself.
Above the 49th parallel, we get only the figures. To us, it looks like you have an enviable success rate. It seems that (as much as there are issues) something in the training process works for you. So I guess we are looking for the good ideas which make that happen, with the intention of adapting them to improve our own training system.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Texas
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Mr. Pig,
It was not my intention either to bring out any current labor issue that the FAA has created; I do apologize if I did so.
I believe that the reason that only graduation numbers are being trumpeted is that the current FAA training program is so new that the actual washout/resignation rates are not in yet. But historically (Pre 1990) about 50 to 60 percent I believe were successful in becoming a full performance controller. I have seen that approximate rate in my 27 years as a Military and FAA controller.
Having seen and participated (as trainee and instructor) in two different programs I believe that the program used by the Air Force was/is more effective than the FAAs. I’m sure if you emailed interest to the training command at Keesler AFB in Mississippi, they would send you some information to help in your quest for information.
The main reason I made the above statement is that the Air Force, based on aptitude tests, took people off the street and trained them in both tower and approach control functions. After graduation, your first post determined which function you received OJT, On the Job Training. Specific skills were identified as required knowledge and given a go/no go rating. If a trainee did not display the knowledge/understanding of a specific skill more training was given and after a reasonable amount of time they were reassigned to a non-atc position if they could progress beyond that point. This allowed trainees to advance at their own pace, lets face it some grasp it quicker than others and we should allow that to happen. Plus by having the main knowledge/Skills written out for the trainee to see and sign off on keeps them from saying “I didn’t know about that” .
Just an observation from little old me..Regards
It was not my intention either to bring out any current labor issue that the FAA has created; I do apologize if I did so.
I believe that the reason that only graduation numbers are being trumpeted is that the current FAA training program is so new that the actual washout/resignation rates are not in yet. But historically (Pre 1990) about 50 to 60 percent I believe were successful in becoming a full performance controller. I have seen that approximate rate in my 27 years as a Military and FAA controller.
Having seen and participated (as trainee and instructor) in two different programs I believe that the program used by the Air Force was/is more effective than the FAAs. I’m sure if you emailed interest to the training command at Keesler AFB in Mississippi, they would send you some information to help in your quest for information.
The main reason I made the above statement is that the Air Force, based on aptitude tests, took people off the street and trained them in both tower and approach control functions. After graduation, your first post determined which function you received OJT, On the Job Training. Specific skills were identified as required knowledge and given a go/no go rating. If a trainee did not display the knowledge/understanding of a specific skill more training was given and after a reasonable amount of time they were reassigned to a non-atc position if they could progress beyond that point. This allowed trainees to advance at their own pace, lets face it some grasp it quicker than others and we should allow that to happen. Plus by having the main knowledge/Skills written out for the trainee to see and sign off on keeps them from saying “I didn’t know about that” .
Just an observation from little old me..Regards
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: in a world of my own
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CZHU,
Your suggestion is very welcome, thank you. It hadn't occurred to me to inquire about the USAF training system, but I shall look into it. On the face of it, the system you outline seems very similar to the kind of graduated training which we think might work well up here.
By the way, I did look at the website you suggested. It certainly is an eye-opener, and provides a great deal of context!
cheers,
P
Your suggestion is very welcome, thank you. It hadn't occurred to me to inquire about the USAF training system, but I shall look into it. On the face of it, the system you outline seems very similar to the kind of graduated training which we think might work well up here.
By the way, I did look at the website you suggested. It certainly is an eye-opener, and provides a great deal of context!
cheers,
P
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: East of London
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