Course aim

This course is designed for technicians and engineers who need to understand the infrastructure used in Air Traffic Management (ATM) for surveillance. It gives them the knowledge and skills needed for operating and maintaining surveillance equipment to support the complete ATM system. It also prepares them for System Equipment Rating Training, which is the next step in becoming an ATSEP.

Ways of learning

Entry Point North offers four delivery formats. Learners have 90 days’ access to the course content.

Online On Demand
Online On Demand is a self-paced course format that gives learners access to the ATSEP platform at any time. Learners can revisit content as needed and use AI-driven guidance while working through the course at their own pace.

Certification is issued automatically upon completion.

Online Live Guidance
Online Live Guidance combines online learning with scheduled instructor-led sessions led by experienced ATSEP professionals.

During the live sessions, learners explore key topics, discuss real-world examples, ask questions and exchange knowledge with instructors and other participants. Some courses also include optional open sessions for additional questions and discussion.

ATSEP SUR: 4 instructor-led sessions are scheduled during the course.

Certification is issued automatically upon completion.

Hybrid
Hybrid combines the ATSEP platform with instructor-led classroom training. Digital content, AI-driven guidance and interactive activities are used alongside classroom discussions, collaboration and practical exercises.

Onsite
Onsite training brings the ATSEP course content into an instructor-led, face-to-face setting. Experienced ATSEP professionals guide learners through the material using discussions, real-world examples, collaboration and practical exercises.

Onsite training is available upon request and can be delivered at the customer’s premises or at any Entry Point North training site.
Onsite training is offered upon request. The onsite course can be delivered at customer site or any EPN site.

What you will learn

HMI (SUR-HMI)
HMI: ATCO HMI, ATSEP HMI, pilot HMI, displays.

Surveillance Data Transmission (SUR-SDT)
Surveillance data transmission: technology and protocols, verification methods.

Functional Safety (SUR-FST)
Safety attitude: the ATSEP role in safety management routines.
Functional safety: the impact of functional failures in SUR systems.

From qualification Data Processing: Data Processing Systems
Surveillance data processing systems: surveillance data processing systems.

Primary (SUR-PSR)
ATC surveillance: use of PSR for air traffic services, antenna (PSR), transmitters, characteristics of primary targets, receivers, signal processing and plot extraction, plot combining and characteristics of primary radar.
SMR: use of SMR for air traffic services and radar sensor.
Test and measurements: making measurements on PSR and SMR.

Secondary (SUR-SSR)
SSR and MSSR: use of SSR for air traffic services, antenna (SSR), interrogator, transponder, receiver, signal processing and plot extraction, plot combining, test and measurement.
Mode S: Introduction to Mode S, Mode S system.
Multilateration: MLAT in use, MLAT principles.
SSR environment.

ADS (SUR-ADS)
General view on ADS: basic characteristics of ADS.
ADS-B: introduction to ADS-B, technique of ADS-B, VDL Mode4 (STDMA), Mode S Extended Squitter, UAT, ASTERIX.
ADS-C: introduction to ADS-C, technique of ADS-C.

Prerequisites

To become an ATSEP, learners need to complete the ATSEP Basic course, the ATSEP Shared course, and at least one ATSEP Qualification course. This Initial Training can be completed in two different orders:

• ATSEP Basic > ATSEP Shared > ATSEP Qualification, or
• ATSEP Basic > ATSEP Qualification > ATSEP Shared

This means that the only prerequisite for starting this Qualification course is to have completed the ATSEP Basic course. However, to become an ATSEP, learners will need to either complete an ATSEP Shared course before taking the Qualification course, or complete an ATSEP Shared course after they completed the Qualification course.

Compliance with regulations

• Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/373 Annex XIII, subpart A.
• EASA ANNEX XIII – Part-PERS requirements for service providers concerning personnel training and competence assessment Subpart A – Air Traffic Safety Electronic Personnel.