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 request the vZBW SOP exam through THIS FORM 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, including forums. You must pass this exam (and all other exams) with a grade of 80% or greater in order 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 4 separate training syllabi. They are:

Ground Controller (S1)

Tower Controller (S2)

Approach Controller (S3)

Center 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 B DEL/GND
• 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 Exam Center to complete the exams. If you have lost your 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 exams.

Over-The-Shoulder (OTS) Exams and 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 publicly available so that students know exactly what is expected of them to successfully pass an OTS. The OTS standards are:

• Ground Controller (S1) OTS Standards
• Class B DEL/GND Certification OTS Standards
• Tower Controller (S2) OTS Standards
• Class C Tower Certification OTS Standards
• Class B Tower Certification OTS Standards
• Approach Controller (S3) OTS Standards
• Class C Approach Certification OTS Standards
• Class B Approach Certification OTS Standards
• Center Controller (C1) 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 OTSs are only administered when an instructor or mentor feels a student is proficient enough for certification.

Step-By-Step Process

Ground Controller

1. Student reviews ZBW website and ZBW Controller Forums, including all policies and procedures.
2. Student submits an exam request HERE and requests the SOP exam.
3. Student passes SOP exam with an 80% or better, posts corrections to the Forum, and reviews corrections with a mentor on the Forum.
4. Student begins with the Ground Controller (S1) Syllabus studying sections 1-7.
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 is now eligible to begin training with a mentor and ultimately earn their VATUSA Ground Controller (S1) rating. After passing a vZBW S1 OTS, the VATUSA S1 exam will be assigned. After passing the VATUSA S1 exam, the rating of Ground Controller (S1) will be awarded.
7. Student takes and passses the Advanced Delivery/Ground exam with an 80% or better and corrects all mistakes and reviews answers with a mentor. The student is now eligible to control KBOS at the DEL/GND level during off-peak times.
8. Student is now eligible to begin training online with a mentor and ultimately earn their Class B DEL/GND certification.

Tower Controller

1. Student studies the Tower Controller (S2) syllabus, takes and passes the Local Control exam with an 80% or better, corrects all mistakes, and reviews answers with a mentor or instructor.
2. Student is now eligible to begin training with a mentor and ultimately earn their VATUSA Tower Controller (S2) rating. After passing a vZBW S2 OTS, the VATUSA Tower Controller exam will be assigned. Upon successful completion of the VATUSA Tower Controller exam, the rating of Tower Controller (S2) will be awarded.
3. After obtaining an Tower Controller rating, the student continues training with a mentor, working towards their Class C Tower certification.
4. Once an instructor or mentor feels the student is proficient, an OTS is administered for Class C Tower Certification.
5. After obtaining a Class C TWR certification, the student studies Section 8 of the S2 syllabus and takes the Advanced Local Control exam.
6. Student is now eligible to begin training online with a mentor and ultimately earn their Class B TWR certification.

Approach Controller

1. After obtaining a Class B Tower certification the student studies sections 1-3 of the S3 syllabus, takes and passes the Approach Control exam with an 80% or better, corrects all mistakes, and reviews answers with a mentor or instructor.
2. Student is now eligible to begin training with a mentor and ultimately earn their VATUSA Approach Controller (S3) rating. After passing a vZBW S3 OTS, the VATUSA Approach Controller exam will be assigned. Upon successful completion of the VATUSA Approach Controller exam, the rating of Approach Controller (S3) will be awarded.
3. After obtaining a Senior Student rating, the student continues training with an instructor or mentor, working towards their Class C Approach certification.
4. Once an instructor or mentor feels the student is proficient, an OTS is administered for Class C Approach Certification.
5. After obtaining a Class C Approach certification the student studies section 4 of the S3 syllabus and takes the Advanced Approach exam.
6. Student is now eligible to begin training online with a mentor and ultimately earn their Class B Approach certification.

Center-Enroute

1. After obtaining a Class B Approach certification the student studies the C1 syllabus, takes and passes the Center/Enroute Control exam with an 80% or better, corrects all mistakes, and reviews answers with an instructor.
2. Student is now eligible to begin training online with a mentor and ultimately earn their Center-Enroute certification as well as Center Controller Status (C1). Upon successful completion of the VATUSA Center Controller exam, the rating of Center Controller (C1) will be awarded.

Mentor/Instructor

1. At the discretion of the TA and ATM.