Recurrent Air Traffic Training Debuts
Friday, February 24, 2012

Recurrent Training is now rolling out at air traffic facilities around the country, with continuous learning intended to move the ATO to the next level of safety. The program’s nationally standardized curriculum integrates relevant operational learning from facilities into the entire national airspace system.

“We’re going to use technology, we’re going to use employee input, we’re going to use the field to make sure that what we provide for training has benefit and value not only to our workforce but to those who utilize the system,” said Rick Ducharme, ATO’s deputy chief operating officer, in a short video that introduces the training.

Please click HERE to view the video.

The video includes comments by a number of NATCA facility representatives, as well as NATCA Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert.

“It’s really great to see that the training is coming from the workforce, by the workforce,” said Lisa Cyr, NATCA’s Recurrent Training lead. “It’s a collaborative effort to make the workforce better.”

At about eight hours, the twice-a-year training is equal parts of facilitator-led workshop and computer-based instruction. It includes material based on safety data, Air Traffic Safety Action Program reports and human factors feedback.

The workshop portion of the training will be delivered at each facility by a two-person facilitator team — one manager, and one representative chosen by NATCA.

“It will evolve; we’ll get feedback from the field,” said Gilbert in the video. “We’ve got a good team in place to make sure that we address all of the issues that we receive back up the line and continue to improve the program.”

Facilitator teams began conducting classes Feb. 7 to ensure all air traffic controllers are trained by July. The computer-based portion can be taken the same day as the facility-led training or later as long as all content is completed by July 31.

Then a new cycle of Recurrent Training will begin.

“As we introduce more advanced, efficient air navigation services and technology to the NAS, constant engagement on safety topics will help us move to the next level of safety,” said Mack Alexander, acting ATO Safety director.

“My hope for recurrent training is that we can provide the workforce training that is relevant,” added Garth Koleszar, NATCA national training representative. “It is going to be real and pertinent to what we do.”

Recurrent Training takes the place of some refresher training requirements in FAAO 3120.4M.

“We’ve needed this for a long time,” said Patricia Garrambone, ATO Technical Training director. “The constant feedback and collaborative approach for both developing topics and delivering the training is part of our commitment to maintaining operational proficiency and supporting lifelong learning.”