Performance objectives IS the standard
One current challenge in European ATC training is the streamlining of training to become an air traffic controller. In fact in my previous post I wrote that this training [Common Core Content] should be the same anywhere it is provided.
Having discussed this issue with a number of people involved [amongst whom many still believe that this should be the case] I have come to change my mind.
The paths taken may be different, the end result should be the same. With this I mean that it is the performance which is to be achieved at a specific step towards becoming an ATCO is more important.
The standard across Europe should be that of the performance objectives at the end of each phase of training, i.e. Basic, Rating and Unit training. At the end of each phase, students should be checked against these objectives and if judged apt, then they would be allowed to progress to the next phase.
The training provided to achieve the performance could then be custom made against the students’ needs.
Some students are faster than others in acquiring certain skills. Others, like for example a person with meteorological background or an apron controller, bring with them already a lot of knowledge which does not need to be retrained.Â
The current struggle in determining the common core content training objectives as a standard is because it is hard to determine one type of training for different kind of people with different backgrounds.
The objective is to guarantee that all qualified personnel have the same common core skill and knowledge set which would then enable mobility and would be a guarantee that ATC service delivered in different part of Europe is up to the same standard.
To achieve this objective, it is easier to determine the performance that these people need to reach at different steps in their development towards becoming controllers than to try to limit training ot one pre defined path.
