Wanted - Pilots to attend Emergency Training for Air Traffic Controllers at Swanwick
 

PPruNe have given their wholehearted support and permission to post the following;

Wanted

Pilots to attend Emergency Training for Air Traffic Controllers at Swanwick


Controllers at the London Area Control Centre (Swanwick) undertake emergency training every year to maintain their licences. This training is split between TRUCE (Training for Unusual Circumstances and Emergencies) and STAC (Scenario Training for Aircrew and Controllers).

TRUCE sessions take place in the afternoon. For Swanwick controllers there will be both classroom discussions and time in the simulator which is located at our corporate headquarters in Whiteley, Hampshire.
Prior to the afternoon session, pilots are encouraged to visit the Operation Rooms at Swanwick (generally from 1100).

Over past years we have hosted many commercial pilots and the vast majority have commented how useful their attendance has been. For our ATCOs, they get to hear how commercial pilots deal with emergency situations first hand, and pilots can gain a better understanding of what we do should they call PAN or MAYDAY. Expect to take part within the classroom discussions and the simulator exercises (you can even play the part of the emergency pilot during an exercise!).

STAC is a facilitated classroom session at Swanwick (0900 to 1600) run by an ATCO facilitator and pilot CRMI. A mixed group of pilots and controllers discuss how emergencies effect operations on the flight deck and control room and how a better understanding of each others requirements can lead to better handling of these events.
The day usually concludes with pilots visiting both Operation Rooms.


Sensible expenses can be claimed for those travelling from the London area or equivalent distance. Lunch will normally be provided.

I cannot over emphasise how useful your attendance will be for the participants!

If you think you might have a spare day, please E mail us at [email protected] so that we can send you more details. Please include an email address, brief details about you, who you fly for and what you fly. I can then arrange for more information to be sent out including the dates.

what a smashing idea, good luck

Is this open for GA pilots as well?

What day of the week would it likely be on please?

I have sent you an email with my details. I missed out on this last year and would love to get involved.

Trev, not sure if GA are allowed but it can be any day, depends on when the courses have been rostered. One even ran on Easter Sunday last year.

As a controller of 30 years standing I have found the presence of members of the pilot community at our TRUCE sessions to be by far the most valuable and instructive part of the day....especially given the very limited opportunities available these days to get jumpseat time.I hope we will continue to see our flight deck colleagues taking an active part.

I have participated yearly since 2010 and can only recommend it. The sessions are extremely informative and, in my opinion, just as valuable as sim training as the emergencies which are discussed happen in the real world and have an effect that reaches far beyond the aeroplane.

If only we could bring controllers in to our sims...

I've been banging away at management for years that we should be allowed sit in a jump seat during pilot SIM sessions just to get an idea of how high their workload is in certain situations. I have to say over the years I have learned a phenomenal amount from sitting down and talking with the folks in the cockpit. I really do think it's a failure on the part of ANSPs and Airlines that commercial pilots and licensed atcos do not train together more often. He'll, we could even link our simulator s together online

I'm assuming Una doesn't work for NATS as we do get the option to go along to the LOFT sessions that airlines run. I've done two myself, one with Easyjet and one with Thomas Cook.

Both have been very informative although I understand that these LOFT sessions generally run over two days and I've been lucky enough each time to see the days with the emergencies thrown in each time. The en-route controller who had been there the day before had spent a lot of time messing around with contaminated runways, which may not have been so useful for them. I appreciate it's a sim and obviously isn't quite like real life, but it was eye opening to see the amount of work that goes on in the cockpit.

I'd encourage anyone who has the option to do one of these days to take it up. If you are a NATS controller it can count towards one of your three extra days and goes towards your CPD total for the year.

To echo what others have said, pilot input during TRUCE is certainly some of the most useful training time we have - anything that fosters a greater understanding between pilots and controllers is a good thing.

Can I please bump this to the top of the list as we have sessions rostered with no pilots due to attend. It really does make a huge difference having "the other side" present. As all those pilots that have previously attended can concur, the benefit is huge to both sides, and if I happen to be in attendance, doughnuts may even be in abundance. :}

Is the still happening, or am I too late?

Whilst I'm not involved in the organisation of TRUCE, it does run year-round, so I would suspect all are welcome to register interest at any time.

There are dates running into next year, every week, if my memory serves me correctly.

I've been before and would highly recommend a visit. Sadly am now located further north, so not so easy to get to Swanwick.

The season usually runs from September to April & as already said there tends to be dates most weeks. Ping an email to the address in the first post & please, come along :)

Is TRUCE still running?
 

I can confirm that TRUCE at swanwick is still running through to at least Easter next year.Any pilots who are interested please drop us an e mail with your details to [email protected]

I have just attended a course as amongst other things a retired pilot. It is really good and well run. The interaction between pilots and controllers who don't normally meet is extremely useful. This particularly covers safety issues.

Have passed the word on to relevant members of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

TRUCE
 

Just a query - I have a CPL/ME/IR but nor currently employed as still 'training'.

Is it possible for someone like me to attend as an experience gathering exercise pre career?

Shaft109, email them, you would learn a huge amount if they say yes? Explain where you are with your training and your ambitions. Ultimately, your understanding of ATC would certainly be enhanced by giving up an afternoon of your time.

Thanks Buster - I've visited a few Towers and Manchester before the new tower was built but will send a mail to ask.