The training of air traffic controllers: A case study

A mass training program was implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the Fall of 1981 to replace almost 12,000 air traffic controllers fired by President Reagan as a result of an illegal work strike. More than six years have elapsed since the strike, yet, there is still a shortage of controllers.;The purpose of this study has been to examine the present training program provided to prospective air traffic controllers by the FAA. Specific attention has been directed to the following questions: (1) What are the aims of the program? (2) How is it staffed? (3) Who are the trainees, and how are they selected? (4) What are the major problems and constraints in the program? (5) What is the program's curriculum? (6) What steps are recommended to improve the program?;The data for the study have been collected in three ways: (1) talking with training directors, instructors, controllers, trainees and other people involved in the program. (2) By observation, specifically, observing classroom and laboratory activities, and behavior. (3) Studying past and present published material relevant to the training program.;Results of the study indicate that the inability of the government agency to project the rapid growth of air transportation is one of the prime causes for the shortages. Others are the difficulty experienced by the FAA in training individuals, the emphasis placed on controlling large volumes of traffic as the criterion for certifying controllers, and the failure of applicants to achieve the required grade scores on the "Air Traffic Controller Aptitude Test.".;Some of the recommendations are: (1) "On-the-job-training" should be the primary focus for developing controllers. (2) Controlling a precise number of aircraft, rather than a high volume of traffic, should be the prerequisite for certification. (3) Areas of specialization should be reduced to a maximum of three operational sectors. (4) The "Air Traffic Controller Aptitude Test" should be re-designed to assess the applicants' potential to perform the job function utilizing radar.