FABEC ATCO Basic Training certified: 1st course started in Switzerland

High quality ATCO training contributes to safe and efficient air navigation services. The four ATCO training academies of DFS (Germany), ENAC (France), LVNL (Netherlands) and skyguide (Switzerland) have upgraded the "FABEC ATCO Basic Training V3.0" curriculum by coordinating uniform training materials, reference documents and examination processes. After the successful approval of the training course by the different National Supervisory Authorities, the skyguide Training Centre opened the first V3.0 course using this new material this autumn.

With the approval of the FABEC ATCO Basic Training, the objectives defined by the FABEC Training Task Force of pooling teaching support and investments, the integration of innovative pedagogical methods, coordination and centralization of approval procedures, as well as the creation of a community of training experts to share good practices and learn from each other have thus been achieved. 

In the earlier version of the common course, learning objectives were related and certified to specific lessons and teaching material. In the new version the learning objectives are related and certified to common subject manuals and therefore the course instructors now have more freedom to choose the optimum way of delivering the content, while still sharing best practice.

Greg Hindson, Chairman of FABEC Maintenance Control Board:

“We achieved to create a FABEC-wide common examination process, harmonized processes for delivering training methods and material per course topic, a common training manual – all based on a common legal framework. This is a major milestone towards harmonized ATCO training and the delivery of capacity for the European core area.”

Christian Lareida, Head of skyguide training centre:

“By being the first users of the common FABEC training syllabus for our new ab initio training course, we experience the added value of FABEC in training matters. This cooperation and exchange of best practice is useful for our trainees and instructors alike.”