What kind of remote ATC learning experience do you want to provide? Self-directed? Structured? Online? Instructor-led? Aimee Turner monitors ATC training developments.

The pandemic impact means that the worldwide shortage of air traffic controllers – in the near term at least – is no longer the industry hurdle it once was. The challenge now is keeping controllers current to ensure safe and continuous service and enabling them to continue their training in a safe environment. As many air navigation service providers (ANSP) turn to remote training approaches, tools are coming to the fore that provide a realistic imitation of the ATC environment from ab initio through to rating and conversion.

While the concept of remote interaction with students and distance learning have been around for some time, Greg Pile, managing director at UK-based ATC simulator specialist Micro Nav, points out that these delivery methodologies were often considered to be lacking. Attitudes are changing on the back of necessity, however.

Looking to read the full article? Become a Premium Club member and gain full access today!

Editor’s Note: Last week, Portuguese investigators GPIAAF (Gabinete de Prevençäo e Investigaçäo de Acidentes com Aeronaves e de Acidentes Ferroviärios) released the final report of the harrowing Air Astana ERJ190LR flight KC1388 accident of 11 November 2018. The plane was on a post-maintenance flight, carrying three Air Astana pilots and three technicians from the operator.

Shortly after takeoff from Alverca do Ribatejo airbase, Portugal, the regional jet became uncontrollable. The pilots not only issued a distress signal, fighter aircraft were scrambled to escort them to the sea, where the Air Astana crew anticipated ditching their plane.

This exclusive narrative is from a detailed conversation CAT Europe Editor Chris Long had with the Air Astana flight crew, presenting their in-the-cockpit perspective.

The first that Captain Vyacheslav Aushev learnt of the task was whilst he was in another aircraft, having arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where he was instructed to call crew control during checkout. He was then advised that he was planned to collect an Embraer 190 from the military airport at Alverca, near Lisbon, and return it via a refuelling stop at Minsk, Belarus, to the home base at Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan’s capital. This with no fare-paying passengers, but with three maintenance engineers returning to base. The aircraft was due out of a “C” maintenance check but, because of repeated delays totalling 11 days, the original aircraft captain was no longer able to take the flight, hence the short notice.