FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
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Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-98/8

Title and Subtitle: Differential Training Needs and Abilities at Air Traffic Control Towers: Should All Controllers Be Trained Equally?

Report Date: March 1998

Authors: Thompson, R.C., Agen, R.A., and Broach, D.M.

Abstract: The present study uses job elements identified by subject-matter experts to assess the perceived training needs of air traffic control specialists (ATCSs) who are assigned to towers after successful completion of FAA Academy training. The Director of Air Traffic Services tasked The Air Traffic Resource Management Program (ATX) with conducting a training needs assessment. To measure the needed skills and knowledge of new controllers, a survey was developed by ATX and distributed by the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute to 172 tower level III, IV, and V facility managers and nine regional Air Traffic Division managers. The survey was used to assess the performance-based skills standards needed by new controllers at the time of entry into a field facility. The training capability of individual towers was also examined. The results indicated that there are some differences in the required training of ATCSs assigned to level IV and V towers. Therefore, the tower assignment of new hires should be identified upon entry into the Academy to better focus on the specific training needs of prospective towers.

Key Words: Air Traffic Control Specialists, Training Needs

No. of Pages: 17