ATC instruction and intructors

[Dr.Triax]

Hi fellow ATCOs,

I was wondering how are instructors chosen in your ACCs or TWRs. I mean "on the job" intructors, not ATC school...
In Spain, it is just a matter of time (as far as you apply for it), no other requisite is needed. So if you have the years of experience as ATC requested on the application form, you are in! And if nobody applies, you are in no matter if you have only a 100h on your license!! They don't request any ability to teach , nor to work...
Thanks!

[goatface]

In the UK you have to go on an approved CAA course to qualify as an OJTI and you also have to have a minimum of 12 months validation in the specialist area (twr/aps/area) in which you are going to instruct before you can be an OJTI at your unit.
At my unit, OJTIs are required to undergo further unit training with a Local Competency Examiner before they are allowed to instruct trainees. They are also formally examined at least once per year to maintain standards.

In the near future, it will be a requirement for each OJTI to undertake a refresher course with one of the UK's approved ATC Colleges, although, if there enough OJTIs to warrant it, this will be able to be done by an instructor visiting the unit

[Mr. Pig]

Interesting question. Here in the Great White North, we require a one-week OJI training course. It is probably Transport Canada approved, although the training mandate from them seems a little vague when compared with Europe and UK. To get on the next course you need only become next in line, and wait - anyone who wants the course seems to get it. Little consideration is given to experience, and some will get the course within a year of licensing (because everyone else in the unit has had it). There has not been any refresher or upgrade requirement, although the employer is considering introducing one. By the way, a recent report on training within this ANSP identified OJT as the area within which the most noticeable improvements to the training system could be made.

[throw a dyce]

Goatface,
Well I did my OJTI course in Nov 1984,and since then absolutely no refresher.If it takes another 25years I'll be certainly retired and possibly dead.
It would seem that on our unit you get an OJTI course if you make enough noise about it,even though you might not be the right person for the job.

[Barnaby the Bear]

From CAP744

Part 3 page 12 section 8.3

01 September 2009

The OJT Instructor Licence Endorsement is issued for a 3-year period. It is renewable by an assessment of the controller's competence to continue to train and supervise student or trainee air traffic controllers.
Providers of air traffic services at units where they are responsible for the provision of air traffic control services must have processes, procedures and competent personnel to ensure that holders of an OJT Instructor licence endorsement are assessed for competence at least every three years. The renewal of an OJT Instructor licence endorsement may be carried out within the 90-day period preceding the date of expiry of the current OJT Instructor licence endorsement. Provided the controller is assessed as competent, the OJT Instructor licence endorsement will be renewed for a further 3 years from the date of expiry of the current endorsement. Providers of air traffic services shall inform the CAA of the outcome of the assessment in all cases.
The assessment of competence for renewal of the OJT Instructor licence endorsement must confirm that the holder continues to meet the Performance Objectives detailed in CAP 624 Part 12.

Its designed to filter out the 'Grandfather' rights and dare I say it 'Old school' teaching methods.

[Dr.Triax]

Thanks for the answers, guys. As we would say in Spain, "En todos sitios cuencen habas"...
I wonder how it works in USA and Germany...

[MunichACC]

In Germany we have a 2 weeks rating course called ABQ. It stands for Ausbilder Qualifikation.
You are suggested by your Watch Supervisor for the ABQ. The so called Chief of Section (COS - Boss of the Supervisors) then decides which of his controllers get the ABQ. A long time it was just a matter of seniority. But that has changed about 2 years ago.

[elcrusoe]

for the US

You attend a 3 or more day OJTI class and you have to be facility/sector/twr certified for 12 months. And you are required to take refresher classes each year.

[boair1]

I think you right on that one

[ayrprox]

everybody's name was put into a hat.

i lost!!

[Lon More]

In the beginning at Maastricht the only requirement was a validation. I had my first trainee the day after validating. ; times have changed and it is now done on a voluntary basis. Minimum requirement is a satisfactory progress over a couple of years after validation and an OJTI course, IIRC

[Dr.Triax]

Thanks for the replies, guys. So it is pretty much the same all around (little requirements on expertise and proficiency, just time experience on the position). I was being a little idealistic, and thought maybe some other objective qualification was needed, as teaching capacity and abilities, aircraft performance and overall aeronautical knowledge (pilot-pilot, and pilot-cockpit interaction, checklist, workload in the cockpit, etc...).

[RustyNail]

Realistic, not Idealistic

"I was being a little idealistic, and thought maybe some other objective qualification was needed, as teaching capacity and abilities"

Dr. Triax

I have worked in several ANSP's and agree with the other comments made on here that a basic 12 months qualification and an OJT course is all you need in most places to become an instructor.

That is not to say you become a good instructor, I am of the opinion that meeting minimum course and time requirements is a good start, but refresher courses, human factors courses, systems for adult learning, communication skills and most importantly, teaching abilities, should all be part of any skill set that a "good" instructor must posess.

Eurocontrol runs fantastic courses in Lux for both OJT and classroom instructional techniques, Airways runs week-long refresher courses every (5) years I think it is to keep everybody up to date with the latest training techniques and equipment.

Proper training and natural ability can make a good instructor, more
experience helps, but experience alone does not automatically make you a better instructor.