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.

Course structure

The course contains the following streams:

• SUR-PSR
• SUR-SSR
• SUR-ADS

It is also possible to participate only in a part of the course which covers an individual stream.

The course is offered in three ways depending on the flexibility needed for our learners.  

Self-paced
Learners enrol themselves on the course and have direct access, enabling the learners to determine the timing and extent of practice required. 

Self-paced in combination with instructor-led sessions
The course duration is 10 full-time days online, of which 4 half days are dedicated to a pre-scheduled session with an instructor prior to the exam.

Learners have the option to access the self-paced parts of the course before the official start date if they wish more time spent on the self-paced material. The session with our instructor will focus on problem-solving scenarios as an ATSEP, deep dives into specific areas, clarifications, real-world examples, and examination preparations, depending on the learner’s needs. 

Through a course site, learners can engage and communicate with both their peers and the instructor. They have access to an open course chat where they can interact with others and the option to send individual emails directly to the instructor.

Onsite
Onsite training is offered upon request. The course is 10 days in duration and is delivered by professional international instructors.

Content in brief

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.