Training Content
There are four lessons, run as DVD-style movies. Each is a slide show, with inserts of live simulator screen captures of conflict scenarios being resolved. These demonstrate the practical application of the theory taught, with audio of the controller and pilot communications.
The lessons are designed to develop the student’s management of CompSep conflicts in a structured manner. A lesson is followed by a simulator exercise in which twenty scenarios of aircraft in serious conflict suddenly appear on the screen, to be resolved by the student using Speech Recognition technology.
The training sequence is:
Traffic Information: This lesson deals only with the delivery of accurate Traffic Information to pilots of aircraft in conflict. Integration of this information with control actions is developed as the course progresses.
Predictive Conflict Alerts: The correct response to a predictive alert (PCA/STCA) is covered in detail. Techniques for determining the correct resolution method are discussed: Vertical? Turn one or both aircraft? Which aircraft to turn or which to turn first if there is time for both to be turned? How is Traffic Information added to control instructions? Followed by a simulator exercise presenting twenty conflicts in which a PCA is received almost immediately after the aircraft appear on the screen.
Urgent Conflicts: Those in which no predictive alert has been received and it has become too late to prevent the aircraft flight paths crossing by ATC action alone. Correct resolution techniques are essential if the situation is not to be made worse by the controller. Followed by a simulator exercise again of twenty scenarios, but this time no PCA has been received and the aircraft are around one minute to crossing, in a variety of configurations.
Emergency Conflicts: True ‘startle’ situations which must be resolved almost instantly and, in real life, under considerable stress. Times-to-crossing of forty seconds and less are involved and resolution methods - selection of turn order and direction - must be correct. Then, precisely-constructed instructions to the pilots must be delivered. Followed by an exercise, again of twenty scenarios. This time the aircraft are between forty seconds of crossing when they appear on the screen, reducing to times that preclude all but passing Traffic to the aircraft.
A fourth exercise completes the course. It differs from the previous ones in that it contains other aircraft on the screen that may or may not be in conflict. This provides a distraction and accurately simulates reality; discipline in controller actions is vital. This exercise, competently processed, will show the level of skill at managing CompSep situations the student has attained. It is a real challenge.
For additional practice wind can be added to all the exercises and the radar map can be rotated, making available a virtually unlimited range of scenarios.
Click the thumbnail below to view some excerpts from the lesson content: