Boston ARTCC Mentor Program

Overview

All active members of the Boston ARTCC staff will be assigned a mentor to provide occasional evaluation and coaching. In addition, these mentors will provide the training necessary for promotion to higher ratings. The training staff follows a set of syllabi and lesson plans to allow for a consistent and repeatable approach to training and evaluation. We use a "team teaching" style, utilizing multiple mentors per level, to allow for easier, regular access to mentors.

Mentor Program

Experienced, C-rated, voice qualified members of the staff selected by the Center Chief will be invited to participate as mentors (see the staff page for a list of current mentors). Agreeing to participate as a mentor represents a significant commitment of time and energy to helping our active staff members improve their ATC skills. Mentors will be expected to:

• Be online frequently
• Provide one on one evaluation and coaching of their assigned trainees
• Provide feedback to the Center Chief and Chief Instructor on the progress of those they are assisting
• Conduct pre-promotion evaluations and recommend all promotions to the Center Chief
• Sign on using a callsign of the form BOS_VM_ when they are acting as mentors

While mentors are expected to be capable of working all positions within the Boston ARTCC, it is likely over time that they will develop specializations. As a student progresses through promotions, they are likely to be assigned to different mentors based on those specializations.

Training Process

Training will follow the syllabi and basic lesson plans that are developed for use in this program, ensuring consistent and fair treatment of all trainees. Especially for S-rated trainees, training will be conducted primarily on a private voice channel to promote the rapid and efficient exchange of information.

All students will be expected to complete the appropriate VATUSA training courses and pass the associated Boston-specific exams as a part of learning a new position.Each syllabus will indicate which Boston training courses are required for that position. Here are the four levels of training at Boston, which match the 4 levels of positions within VATSIM. Click on each link below to view the training syllabi each person is expected to follow with the assistance of Boston ARTCC mentor/instructors.

Promotion / Advancement Process

All position certifications and promotions will follow this sequence of steps. If the trainee does not meet the required standard at any step prior to #4, he will be referred back to the mentor/instructor group for further training and the process restarts.

1. Mentor/Instructors determine that trainee is ready for certification for a position, with the trainee having successfully completed local procedures tests based on the training syllabi. Certification to work a position comes through the trainee having passed the requisite knowledge tests as well as having passed an over-the-shoulder review of traffic handling in the position. OTS' are performed by mentor/instructors.
2. Closed book local procedures test is given via Boston's automated tests on the VATUSA website.
3. For promotion to Senior Student, the trainee must have passed the requisite knowledge exams and a Staff /Mentor Instructor gives an over-the-shoulder checkride to verify the student's qualifications for promotion. If promotion to C1 or higher, skip to step 4.
4. Recommendation to Boston ARTCC Chief for promotion (per VATUSA SOP). If approved, Boston local procedures tests must have been passed and the VATUSA written and normal promotion procedures are applied. Checkrides for C1 and higher are performed by the Chief Instructor and Chief or Asst. Chief, with the aid of Instuctors/Mentors as needed.