In The Hot Seat

Aviation widely relies on the transfer of institutional knowledge. The flight instructor teaching you to fly didnt acquire all his/her skills alone. Someone taught them the basics, who in turn was taught by another individual, and so on. Lessons from past experience (a.k.a. mistakes) enlighten future generations.

tkarmer

Thursday, March 02, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Air Traffic Control (ATC) training is a constant, rigorous, and essential process for all controllers to master facility-specific airspace, procedures, and practical skills.
Trainees face immense pressure to develop quick judgment and decisive action, often learning from public mistakes under strict timelines and needing to absorb vast amounts of information.
On-the-Job Training Instructors (OJTIs) are crucial mentors who guide trainees, ensure safety by intervening when necessary, and strategically build confidence through exposure to diverse, challenging scenarios.
Learning is continuous in ATC; even certified controllers transferring facilities or staying current must constantly adapt to new airspace, team dynamics, and evolving regulations.

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The instructor’s voice boomed in the radar room. “What the heck are you doing?” The trainee controller reflexively hunched down in his seat. The instructor leaned in and stabbed at a pair of converging targets on the radar ‘scope at 5000 feet. “Do you see these two?”

The trainee’s voice wavered as he spoke. “N352AM, turn left heading…” The instructor immediately mashed his radio trigger, overriding his charge. “N352AM, disregard last. Remain on course.” He swung his attention back towards his trainee. “Dude, N2AM needs to descend to land. Forget the turn. Descend him to resolve the conflict.”