Air navigation
ATS training organisations
Description
- ATC training: Air Traffic Controllers.
- AFIS training. Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) personnel, also known as Afisos.
The ATS training can be divided into two typologies:
Any training organisation certified in accordance with Regulation 2015/340 may provide ATC Training in Spain under the supervision of the authority of the Member State where the organisation has its main place of activity or its registered office, if it exists (Art. 6 of Regulation 2015/340), being the certificates of completion of these courses recognizable by all Member States.
In Spain there are ATC training organisations, both public and private, in which it is possible to obtain initial, unity and continuous training necessary to exercise as Air Traffic Controller. The training process and the necessary requirements are detailed in navigation -Controllers. These organisations also offer training for practical instructors and controller evaluators, usually experienced controllers who require an additional license annotation. In addition, they provide the formation of the functional airspace block South West FAB (Spain and Portugal), and the national environment (NAC), necessary to practice in Spain.
Regarding the provision of the Airfield Flight Information Service (AFIS), certification as a training organisation is regulated, at national level, through Royal Decree 1133/2010, falling outside the scope of Regulation 2015/340. The ATS training organisations certified against this regulation, both public and private, provide the initial training, in-house instruction and continuous training necessary to act as AFIS personnel. The training process and the necessary requirements are detailed in navigation -Controllers.
ATC training
- Initial Training (Basic, Enabling and Enabling Annotations).
- Unit Training (Transition, PRE-OJT, OJT).
- Continuous Training (Updating and Conversion).
- Training of Practical Instructor.
- Evaluator Training.
- Theoretical Formation: Initial and Transition in the ATC unit.
- Practical training that is NOT done in synthetic training devices (NO STD).
- Practical Training in Synthetic Training Devices (STDs).
Developed in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/340 of 20 February 2015 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures relating to air traffic controller licences and certificates
The training of air traffic controllers consists essentially of two stages before they can:
During the exercise of the privileges of the air traffic controller licence:
All the training provided for in Regulation 2015/340 is summarised in ATCO.D.005 of the aforementioned European legislation. It is developed in more detail throughout the SUBPARTE D to which the aforementioned normative point belongs.
The different types of training are composed, in turn, of different methodologies:
The list of these certified organisations and the services offered are attached below:
AFIS training
- Initial training.
- Instruction in the Unit.
- Continuing training (in exercise).
Developed in accordance with Royal Decree 1133/2010 of 10 September 2010 regulating the provision of the aerodrome flight information service (AFIS).
Some of the organisations certified to provide ATC training also meet the requirements, and offer training to practice as AFIS personnel:
AFIS training consists of:
The course consists of a theoretical training with aeronautical subjects and a practical phase, in which students are instructed through simulation exercises and testing of airport procedures, with methodologies similar to those of the ATC Training.
Certification
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency and amending Regulations (EC) No 2111/2005, (EC) No 1008/2008, (EU) No 996/2010, (EC) No 376/2014 and Directives 2014/30/EU and 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulations (EC) No 552/2004 and (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91.
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/340 of 20 February 2015 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures relating to air traffic controllers’ licences and certificates.
- Royal Decree 1133/2010 of 10 September 2010 regulating the provision of the aerodrome flight information service (AFIS).
- ATC Training Organisation Certification Guide
- Guidance for notifying EASA of training courses for traffic controllers and AFIS operators
- AFIS Training Certification & Supervision Guide
- Recommended Unit Training Plan Format
- Recommended format of Update Course
- Recommended format of Conversion Course
- Recommended format of Initial Training Plan
- Recommended format of Initial Training Course
- Recommended format of Unity Training Plan
- Recommended format of Unity Training Course
- Recommended Course format for Practical Instructors (OJTI/STDI)
- Recommended format of Evaluators Course
- Recommended format of Change Management Procedure
- Notification table for initial training courses
- Unit Training Course Notification Table
- Notification table for instructors and evaluators training courses
- Recommended format of supporting documentation OJTI temporary authorisation
- Recommended format of supporting documentation temporary authorisation evaluator
- Master document under Regulation (EU) 2015/340
- Table Certification Master Document
- AFIS Certification Master Document
- Table Master Document AFIS Certification
This process includes the initial issuance and modification of a certificate that allows the training of personnel for the provision of ATS services.
The certification procedure for ATS personnel training organisations is regulated by the following regulations
In order to apply for certification as an air traffic controller training provider, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/340, the applicant shall duly submit the following form:
To this end, the following specific procedure has been enabled at EASA’s electronic headquarters:
To apply for certification as a provider of AFIS personnel training, in accordance with Royal Decree 1133/2010 the applicant must submit the following form duly completed:
To this end, the following specific procedure has been enabled at EASA’s electronic headquarters:
Application for Initial Certification or Modification of AFIS Training Providers — Description — Application for Initial Certification or Modification of AFIS Training Providers — Telematic Processing — AESA Electronic Headquarters (safetyaerea.gob.es)
Guide material developed by AESA
To guide the applicant in the certification process of ATS training providers, AESA has developed the following guide material that makes available to users:
Recommended formats
Regulatory control of ATS personnel training organisations
- Royal Decree 98/2009 of 6 February 2009 approving the Aeronautical Inspection Regulation.
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/340 of 20 February 2015 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures relating to air traffic controllers’ licences and certificates.
- Royal Decree 1133/2010 of 10 September 2010 regulating the provision of the aerodrome flight information service (AFIS).
- Initial training organisations and Air Traffic Controllers (ATCO) unit/continuous.
- Training organisations of the Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFISO) operators of the ATS units in which that service is provided.
AESA works on the continuous improvement of air transport safety. To this end, it inspects and carries out continuous supervision of the certified ATS personnel training organisations required by the European Union’s “Single Sky” regulatory package for ATS personnel training organisations, in accordance with Community standards and other national regulations.
The rules governing the procedure are as follows:
ATS personnel training organisations
EASA carries out regulatory control inspections in the following areas:
Approvals
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/340 of 20 February 2015 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures relating to air traffic controllers’ licences and certificates.
- Royal Decree 1133/2010 of 10 September 2010 regulating the provision of the aerodrome flight information service (AFIS)
Other activities carried out by the Directorate Air Navigation within its competences is to verify that the required requirements are met in order to approve the ATS training plans and courses. These actions are carried out at the request of the applicant.
The procedure for approving plans and courses shall be carried out in accordance with the approved change management procedure for each organisation. Applications will be submitted through the procedure authorised to do so at EASA’s electronic headquarters.
Implementing regulations