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 11 weeks. It is possible to add 3 more weeks if the ACS environment requires it. Furthermore, we offer several add-ons that allow students more time for consolidation adding up to 6 more weeks to the training. 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.

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 our Basic ATC course or equivalent. If students have taken the Basic ATC course at another facility, we strongly recommend a pre-ACS course (2 weeks) to familiarise themselves with our simulators and airspace.
• English language skills of ICAO level 4 or higher.

Compliance with regulations

• The course is compliant with Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/340.
• The course is approved by the Swedish National Supervisory Authority.
• Entry Point North is certified as a training organization by the Swedish National Supervisory Authority.