ZLA Training Summary for General Reference

POC: Facility Advisory Board	Date: 2010-07-06
Code: ZLA	Version: 2.00

1. PURPOSE.

This summary outlines the ZLA Training Program in order to provide helpful information to our students. This document does not create or modify any existing policies, but merely provides information in a helpful format to guide students as they progress in ZLA.

2. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

The Office of Primary Responsibility for this Summary is the ZLA Facility Advisory Board. This Summary was originally drafted by Mike Cassel, ZLA Training Administrator, on December 18, 2008. This Summary shall be maintained, revised, updated or canceled by the ZLA Facility Advisory Board or any organization that supersedes, replaces or assumes the FAB responsibilities. Any suggestions for modification/amendment to this Summary should be sent to the FAB for review.

3. DISTRIBUTION.

This summary is intended for students to be able to quickly understand the ZLA Training Program.

4. BACKGROUND.

The ZLA Training Department realizes that controlling is inherently a new subject for nearly everyone joining our ARTCC. We also know that our training procedures, although necessary, are not necessarily the easiest things to understand. It is the hope of the Training Department that the following summary helps to provide an easier way to understand the program.

5. SUMMARY.

1. S1 Initial Training

OBS and S1 students arrive at ZLA having passed the VATUSA Basic Examination. Upon Arrival, they take the following written examinations:

1. ZLA Basic Written Examination, an open-book, 25 question multiple choice examination. Nearly all of the answers are available on the ZLA Website, and the goal of the test is to ensure that students have the ability to access the information that they will need as they begin controlling on VATSIM.

2. ZLA Clearance Delivery Examination, an open-book, 15 question essay-style examination. A complete study guide is available for the test on the ZLA Website, such that no previous knowledge should be required to obtain a passing grade.

After those examinations are successfully completed, new students complete the following sessions:

1. Global Controller S1 checkout. This session takes place as a session on the Sweatbox Server at Los Angeles Tower, and is primarily a teaching session. During this session, students cover the basics of VRC, and the basics of Clearance Delivery, Ground, and Tower controlling. This normally takes one session for most of our students, but some take longer.

After successful completetion of that session, students take the following written examination:

1. VATUSA S1 Written Examination, a 25 question multiple-choice examination, taken on the VATUSA website.

Completion of these requirements will result in promotion to the rank of S1 and the the ability to work Minor Tower positions and below. Visiting and Transfer Controllers desiring to work Major/LCTP Airports may not need to complete the Global Controller S1 checkout at the discretion of the Training Department, but still must complete the Basic and Clearance Delivery Written Examinations.

Mandatory reading for this Level:

Suggested Previous Knowledge, Basic Radar Client Setup

ZLA Standarized Training Material sections: ZLA STM Introduction, General ATC, Clearance Delivery, and Ground

Suggested Reading for this Level:

VATUSA Basic, Ground, and Tower Study Guides

Optional Reading for this Level:

ZLA Tower PTS

2. Major Ground Training

The next step is training to be able to work Ground at Major and LCTP Facilities. Students train towards the:

1. Ground/Delivery Solo Certification. This certification is granted on the judgment of the Instructor/Mentor. The certification allows the student to work any GND/DEL position at any time.

Mandatory Reading for this Level:

Applicable Standard Operating Procedures

Suggested Previous Knowledge, Clearance Delivery/Ground.

Suggested New Reading for this Level:

Applicable Portions of the ZLA Tower PTS

Optional Reading for this Level:

IFR departures: Don't I Just Fly Runway Heading?? - A Guide for pilots and controllers

3. Major Tower Training

The next step is training to be able to work Tower at Major and LCTP Facilities. Before beginning Tower Training, students complete the following written examination:

1. ZLA Tower Written Examination, an open book 50 question multiple choice examination. Nearly all of the answers are available on the ZLA Website, and the questions center around the responsibilites of a tower controller.

After completion of the written examination, students train towards the following certifications:

1. ZLA Tower Solo, an informal examination graded according to the ZLA Tower PTS. This certification authorizes students to work any tower in ZLA during off-peak times.

2. ZLA Class C OTS, an optional examination, offered to those students wishing to control LCTP and Major Class C towers. Very few ZLA students take this examination. If undertaken, graded according to the ZLA Tower PTS.

3. ZLA Class B OTS, a formal OTS generally undertaken at LAX, grading according to the ZLA Tower PTS. Passing this OTS allows the student to work any Tower Position in ZLA at any time.

Mandatory Reading for this Level:

Applicable Standard Operating Procedures

ZLA Standarized Training Materials sections: Tower

Suggested Previous Knowledge, Tower

Suggested New Reading for this Level:

Applicable Portions of the ZLA Tower PTS

4. Reserved