United States Department of Transportation
i
Understanding the Air Traffic Control Field Training Process from the Perspective of the Developmental Controller
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2018-09-01
[PDF-5.98 MB]
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Edition:Final
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Abstract:We conducted a study to gather the perspectives of developmental air traffic controllers regarding various aspects of the air traffic control field qualification training process. Our 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. We 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. We 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.
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