vZBW ARTCC Training

Training Outline

The vZBW Training Program is a comprehensive program which not only teaches you the fundamentals of virtual Air Traffic Control, but also teaches you how to work out practical problems on your own. During the course of instruction, you'll be constantly challenged at each stage, but the training staff is always available to provide guidance and help you along the way towards your goals.

To begin your training after you've become a member of the vZBW Team and when you are ready, you may e-mail the mentors to request the automated vZBW SOP exam. This exam is designed to see if you have followed the instructions in your welcome letter and are able to research the answers to basic questions specific to vZBW from our website. You must pass this exam (and all other exams) with a grade of 80% or greater in order to move to continue to the next step in the training program. A failing grade will result a 7 day waiting period to correct and relearn the material before you can reapply to take the exam.

The program is divided into 3 separate training syllabi. They are:

Student (S1)

Senior Student (S3)

Controller (C1)

Within the syllabi, you'll progress through various certification levels which build upon previous certifications you've earned and material you've learned. These certification levels are:

• Class C TWR
• Class B TWR
• Class C APP
• Class B APP
• Center-Enroute

The training program is very "self-learning" centered. As you can see in the above linked syllabi, all of the required reference material is provided, and students are expected to "dig into the books" to find the answers to questions. Once any required written tests are successfully completed, the student will then work with a training staff member on their certifications. This proven design ensures that a student has a solid foundation in the theory, before working on practical application.

When you joined a VATUSA region [vZBW], you received a username and password to access the VATUSA website. In order to take vZBW's online exams you will need your VATUSA username and password and will go to the VATUSA Certification Center to complete the exams. If you have lost your username and password you may request yours from VATUSA.

The Testing Process

Online Exams

There are many complicated and intricate details that an Air Traffic Controller must fully understand in order to be both successful and efficient. In order to be sure that our students are on the right path to success, they must pass a series of online tests before they begin practicing an online position under supervision. This ensures that the students have the appropriate background knowledge to understand the experience they'll have and situations they'll face online. All of the exam questions are based on fundamental concepts which a student needs to know. They are so important that students are required to correct any questions they get wrong, regardless if they pass or fail the exam. After completing an exam, the student is required to submit their corrections in the Test Corrections forum in the following format:

• Each question they answered incorrectly
• The correct answer
• An explanation of the answer in enough detail to convey a solid understanding
• A reference to the source where they received the information. Eg. Boston Tower SOP, 7110.65 Chapter 2 Section 2-1-2. etc

If an instructor feels a student's cumulative online test performance is not satisfactory (even with passing scores), that instructor, in consultation with the TA, will require the student to retake any of the ZBW tests.

Over-The-Shoulder (OTS) Exams & Position Certification

After the student passes all of their online exams and has worked with a mentor enough to become proficient at a particular position, the student will be given an Over-The-Shoulder (OTS) exam. As the description alludes, this exam is unannounced. Mentors and Instructors can evaluate a student's performance at any time and when they feel the student has demonstrated an adequate level of performance for a position, they will be granted certification at that position. This is done to prevent the student from feeling pressured during an exam.

OTS Standards are publically available so that students know exactly what is expected of them to successfully pass an OTS. The OTS standards are:

• Student (S1) OTS Standards
• Class C Tower Certification OTS Standards
• Class B Tower Certification OTS Standards
• Senior Student (S3) OTS Standards
• Class C Approach Certification OTS Standards
• Class B Approach Certification OTS Standards
• Center-Enroute Certification OTS Standards

These standards are provided as a guide for the level of proficiency students will be required to demonstrate for certification. However, it should be reiterated that OTS's are only administered when an instructor or mentor feels a student is proficient enough for certification.

Step-By Step Process

Student

1. Student looks over ZBW website and gets familiar with our procedures.
2. Student emails mentors and requests the SOP exam.
3. Student passes SOP exam with an 80% or better and corrects all mistakes and reviews answers with a mentor.
4. Student begins with the Student Syllabus studying sections 1-6.
5. Student takes and passes the DEL-GND exam with an 80% or better and corrects all mistakes and reviews answers with a mentor.
6. Student studies section 7 of the Student syllabus, takes and passes the Local Control exam with an 80% or better and corrects all mistakes and reviews answers with a mentor.
7. Student is now eligible to begin training with a mentor and ultimately earn their VATUSA Student (S1) rating. After completing a vZBW S1 OTS, the VATUSA Student written test will be assigned. Upon successful completion of the VATUSA Student written test, the rating of Student (S1) will be awarded.

Class C TWR

8. After obtaining a Student rating, the student continues training with a mentor, working towards their Class C Tower certification.
9. Once an instructor or mentor feels the student is proficient, an OTS is administered for Class C Tower Certification.

Class B TWR

10. After obtaining a Class C TWR certification, the student studies Section 8 of the Student syllabus and takes the Advanced Local Control exam.
11. Student is now eligible to begin training online with a mentor and ultimately earn their Class B TWR certification.

Senior Student

12. After obtaining a Class B Tower certification the student studies sections 1-3 of the Senior Student syllabus takes the Approach exam.
13. Student is now eligible to begin training with a mentor and ultimately earn their VATUSA Senior Student (S3) rating. After completing a vZBW S1 OTS, the VATUSA Senior Student written test will be assigned. Upon successful completion of the VATUSA Senior Student written test, the rating of Senior Student (S3) will be awarded.

Class C APP

14. After obtaining a Senior Student rating, the student continues training with an instructor or mentor, working towards their Class C Approach certification.
15. Once an instructor or mentor feels the student is proficient, an OTS is administered for Class C Approach Certification.

Class B APP

16. After obtaining a Class C Approach certification the student studies section 4 of the Senior Student syllabus and takes the Advanced Approach exam.
17. Student is now eligible to begin training online with a mentor and ultimately earn their Class B Approach certification.

Center-Enroute

18. After obtaining a Class B Approach certification the student studies the Controller syllabus Center-Enroute exam.
19. Student is now eligible to begin training online with a mentor and ultimately earn their Center-Enroute certification as well as a Controller Status. Once an off-peak Center-Enroute OTS is successfully completed, the student will be assigned the VATUSA Controller (C1) written test. Upon successful completion of the VATUSA Controller written test, the rating of Controller (C1) will be awarded.
20. After obtaining an off-peak Center certification, the student continues the Center-Enroute syllabus. Once a peak Center-Enroute OTS is successfully completed a full Center certification will be awarded.

Senior Controller

21. Per the VATUSA Controller Rating Standardization Policy.

Mentor/Instructor

22. At the discretion of the TA and ATM.