Reference Number: ST0595

Details of standard

Civil Area/ Terminal Controller	Military Weapons Controller
Civil Approach Controller	Military Area Radar Controller
Civil Approach Procedural Controller	Military Terminal Radar Controller
Civil Aerodrome Controller	Military Terminal Aerodrome Controller

Level:

This apprenticeship is set at level 5

Duration:

Typically 15-21 Months

Review Date:

This standard will be reviewed in 3 years

Entry requirements:

Individual employers will determine their own entry requirements; in addition, and in accordance with European and UK law, all prospective Air Traffic Controllers must obtain an EU Class 3 medicalcertificate.

Qualification:

Apprentices without Level 2 English and Maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking their end point assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeships English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.

Civil Controllers who have successfully completed their off the job training will be eligible to apply for a Student Licence once they are 18 or over. A student licence is a pre-requisite for Civil on-the-job training.

Military controllers also receive a combination of off/on-the-job training but they are not required to obtain a Student Licence.

This Apprenticeship provides for full occupational competency in a supervised live traffic environment with light traffic complexity and workload. It covers the core requirements shared by all employers across the Civil and Military Air Traffic Controller sectors. Employers may have additional training requirements, depending on the geographical air space they manage, the traffic complexity, and any additional rating endorsements or licencing requirements that sit outside of the Apprenticeship.

Occupational Profile

The UK manages one of the busiest and most complex pieces of airspace in the world. A range of specialist air traffic controller roles contribute to the safe and efficient movement of aircraft with civil and military operations working collaboratively to maintain a fully integrated service to all users, 24 hours a day, every day of the year

Air Traffic Controllers work in a number of aviation environments such as an air traffic control centres, commercial airports, military bases and aerodromes, or other airfields; some air traffic controllers find their training and experience useful in consultancy, aerospace manufacturing or in the global aerospace industry. The guiding principle of air traffic control is to deliver a safe, efficient and reliable service using their knowledge and skills. Air traffic controllers in the UK would usually work for a commercial/ civil employer or the military.

Tasks will vary depending on the specialism of the air traffic controller but include:

preventing collisions between aircraft and between aircraft and obstacles
making sure that minimum safe distances are maintained between aircraft
keeping radio contact with aircraft
maintaining surveillance contact with aircraft using equipment such as RADAR
issuing instructions to aircraft
expediting and maintaining a safe and orderly flow of air traffic
providing information to aircraft about information pertinent to the flight
monitoring data systems
handling unexpected events, emergencies, and unscheduled traffic.

This apprenticeship adopts a core and options approach to allow flexibility for employers and enable transferability between roles and employers for apprentices. All apprentices must attain competence in each of the core knowledge, skills and behaviours. In addition, one specialist option (for additional knowledge and skills) must be taken out of the eight specialisms listed further below, which are Civil Area/ Terminal Controller, Civil Approach Controller, Civil Approach Procedural Controller, Civil Aerodrome Controller, Military Weapons Controller, Military Area Radar Controller, Military Terminal Radar Controller, Military Terminal Aerodrome Controller:

Core Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours

The subjects, topics and sub topics together with the training and performance objectives are laid down in a European regulation and UK Competent Authority publications. All air traffic controllers must have all of the following generic skills, knowledge and behaviours:

	Knowledge and Understanding (Know it) All apprentices will demonstrate:		Skills (Show it) Some skills will be specific to the role but will include:
Safety	Health & Safety obligations as an employee and as an air traffic controller including maintaining a safe environment, emergency response and personal safety Understand how to escalate safety concerns		Comply with Health & Safety obligations as an employee and as an air traffic controller Escalate safety concerns through the appropriate channels
Security	Understand potential security threats and their impact on the business and the operation and action to take in the event of a breach of security		Manage aviation security in own area of operations following organisational procedures to report and react to any breach
Planning	Understand the considerations and processes to enable effective planning, problem solving and decision making using knowledge, experience and evolving information. Understand how to maintain spatial awareness within the designated area of control		Manage planning, problem solving and decision making using knowledge, experience and evolving information. Manage the use and update of situational data displays Maintain spatial awareness within the designated area of control
Compliance & Legislation	Understand how to manage and comply with local, national and international legislation, codes of practice and guidance within own area of responsibility		Manage compliance with legislation, aviation procedures and regulations within own area of responsibility
Communication	Understand how to manage communications with users, staff and external agencies, selecting appropriate methods and language. Understand: standard terminology, context and tools to communicate with aircraft, other ATC authorities, and colleagues how to direct the movement of aircraft how to pass information to aircraft (e.g. weather conditions) how to maintain radio and radar contact with aircraft		Manage communication with users, staff and external agencies, selecting appropriate methods and language Use: correct terminology, context and tools and maintain a safe and effective operation direct the movement of aircraft pass effective and pertinent information to aircraft maintain radio and radar contact with aircraft
Teamworking & Resource Management	Know and understand the procedures and protocols for safe takeover and handover control of the operational position at the start and end of an allocated period of air traffic control Know and understand the correct team and individual responses to light levels of traffic volume and complexity Understand how to manage difficult and challenging situations and people Understand the interactions between different types of controllers and how interactions between controllers affect workload Understand the need for cooperation with other parties concerning aspects of environmental protection		Safely takeover and handover control of the operational position at the start and end of an allocated period of air traffic control Assess and respond effectively to light levels of traffic volume and complexity Effectively manage difficult and challenging situations and people Effectively manage working relationships and interactions between differing types of controllers situated at the same and differing sites (domestic and international) Cooperate effectively with other parties to achieve appropriate environmental protections
Air Traffic Operations	Understand: Aerodrome theory Aircraft performance and behaviours Equipment and systems Aviation Law Air Traffic Management Local procedures, rules and systems Navigation Regulatory standards and obligations Weather and impact on aircraft, the local operation, and the wider air traffic control network Radio, navigation and communications aids Separation minima between aircraft in specific situations Emergency and unscheduled traffic procedures including airborne and ground based failures		Effectively Manage Air Traffic using understanding of appropriate theory, experience and current operating directives
Service Level Agreements	Understand the agreed levels of performance and standard operational procedures within own area of responsibility		Manage team and facilities to deliver results according to agreed levels of performance
Personal Effectiveness	Understand responsibilities and accountabilities for the role Understand how to maintain resilience, effectiveness and operational safety when a plan is not followed Understand the need to acknowledge and react positively to any errors identified Understand the importance of recognising and responding appropriately to the signs and symptoms of fatigue Understand the impact of personal medical fitness and the impact on personal effectiveness		Undertake responsibilities and accountabilities Maintain resilience, effectiveness and operational safety when a plan is not followed Acknowledge and react positively to any errors identified Recognise and respond appropriately to fatigue. Take responsibility for personal medical fitness to not endanger airspace users when personal effectiveness may be reduced
Behaviours (Live it)		· Embrace and promote the values of the organisation · Treat team, customers and other stakeholders with courtesy and respect · Take ownership and responsibility of role and working area, including team members where responsible · Display loyalty, integrity and accountability to the organisation · Commit to continuous development of self and team, including improvements to systems and processes · Be vigilant and proactive in promoting a safe, secure and compliant working culture

Specialist Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours

In addition to the above, the specialist roles will demonstrate the following skills and knowledge:

Specialist

Knowledge and Understanding (Know it)

Skills (Show it)

Civil Area/ Terminal Controllers

are likely to be based in one of the larger air traffic control centres, or may be located at an airport tower. These roles handle domestic traffic and aircraft flying through UK airspace

Understand the specific rules, principles and techniques pertinent to civil Area/ Terminal control and how they apply to, and impact, the civil Area/ Terminal environment

Understand the role and responsibilities of the Area/ Terminal Controller and their role in providing an integrated air traffic control service