Airport, Atm, Community-youth, Youth

Where World-Class Air Traffic Controllers Are Born

20 May 2024
Text by: Mr. Johnson Siew, Project Manager UFA Inc. and Dr. Jack Patel, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Asia

The safe operation of our complex air transportation system requires the intricate weaving of an ecosystem combining humans – Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs), pilots, ground support staff – and machines, together with the proliferation of technologies.

ATCOs, in particular, perform a crucial role in maintaining the skies safe, and the first step to enabling world-class ATCOs begins with their training. For this reason, UFA Inc. has partnered with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Asia to help students receive forward-looking education by gaining practical experience through the employment of the industry-leading ATTower^® simulators. The ATTower^® experience will aid in preparing students for the complexities that operational ATCOs face during their course of work.

ERAU students employing ATTower® during lab session. Photo: Embry-Riddle Asia

Separately, domain skillsets required by various stakeholders in the aerodrome ecosystem would necessitate unique training syllabus. However, trainings conducted in silo usually do not fully expose students to the complexity of communications between the various stakeholders. An example would be the usage of standardized communication and phraseology set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Through UFA’s range of integrated simulation products, joint training is facilitated with complementary functions in a realistic training scenario – where, for instance, ATCOs might train in the same simulation exercise with Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (AARF) colleagues using the ATVehicle^® airside driving simulator, as well as an incident commander working with an interconnected ATTower^® simulator during emergency training situations.

Embry-Riddle Asia Student at UFA Inc. Photo: Embry-Riddle Asia

Effective communications are also imperative, and UFA recognizes that the use of the ATVoice^® speech recognition and response feature integrated with the simulators can benefit training tremendously. ATVoice^® allows an ATCO trainee to practice proper communications phraseology in the context of an interactive training scenario.

As the air transport industry progresses towards safety and sustainability, the collaboration between ERAU and UFA cements the commitment to serve the ATC community. This is driven with the aim to empower future generations of ATCOs to become adept and efficient communicators, and to become communicators who can integrate seamlessly into the increasingly complex and dynamic work environment.