Understanding the Air Traffic Control Field Training Process from the Perspective of the Developmental Controller

The authors conducted a study to gather the perspectives of developmental air traffic controllers regarding various aspects of the air traffic control field qualification training process. The objective was to better understand why some developmentals fail to certify in a field facility despite having been selected for training in air traffic control, in part, based on aptitude for the occupation and having successfully completed foundational training at the FAA Air Traffic Academy. As developmentals completed field qualification training, either successfully or unsuccessfully, they were provided an opportunity to complete the on-line Developmental Controller Questionnaire (DCQ). Items on the DCQ were designed to capture developmentals’ perspectives on what went well and what did not go so well in training. The developmentals were also encouraged to comment on their responses to provide additional information and recommendations for improvement. The comments were organized into categories: Training Teams, Training Procedures, Facility Culture, Individual Ability, and Individual Well-Being. Responses highlighted challenges in interpersonal relationships among developmentals and their training teams, lack of consistency and transparency in training procedures, and a facility culture that was perceived as negative. In many cases, these factors exacerbated the stress of learning a new job, oftentimes far from family and friends. The authors recommended that training standards be made more explicit, that developmentals and their trainers have an opportunity to work together in simulations before on-the-job training (OJT), and that OJT instructors (OJTIs) be provided additional preparation in effective training techniques. The authors also recommended training in stress management be provided to developmentals and that the developmentals have greater involvement in option selection and facility placement. Additional research will be needed to refine and validate these initial findings regarding the field qualification training process and to consider how to implement the recommendations.

• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/57215
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, P.O. Box 25082
  Oklahoma City, OK  United States  73125

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Office of Aerospace Medicine, 800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Buck, Julia L
  • Pierce, Linda G
• Publication Date: 2018-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 113p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Air traffic controllers; Training
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Education and Training; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01782082
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FAA/AM-18/13
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 22 2021 11:54AM