Proposal of the training plan for simulator pilots in the environment of LPS SR, š.p.

Abstract

The pace of development in air traffic management (ATM) procedures and technologies, along with their implementation into air traffic control (ATC), necessitates the modification of existing training plans for both newly qualified and already certified air traffic controllers (ATCOs) in the Slovak Republic. These changes are integrated into actual operations through practical exercises on ATM simulation devices within the premises of the Training Center of the Air Navigation Services of the Slovak Republic. A crucial component of each exercise is the simulator pilot, whose task is to simulate air traffic operations based on current flight procedures and rules. The aim of this work is to propose a detailed training plan for simulator pilots using MaxSIM and radar simulator for ATM systems LETVIS and Eurocat 2000, specifically tailored to the environment of the Air Navigation Services, taking into account the current requirements and needs of the Training Center (TC) as well as all ATC units using TC services. The resulting training plan includes the structure of the training, outlines of theoretical knowledge, presents exercise objectives, factors monitored by the practical training instructor, and evaluations of the performance of the pseudo-pilot in these exercises. The proposal introduces new exercises that address issues currently not covered in pseudo-pilot training, specifically in the approach control environments of Virtcity, Košice, and Štefánik, as well as tower control environments of Virtcity, Košice, Pieštany, Poprad-Tatry, Žilina, and Štefánik. For the Area Control Center in Bratislava, based on consultations with the lead instructor of this unit, the work suggests specialized exercises where the pseudo-pilot actively assumes the role of controlling neighboring positions, thereby increasing the knowledge requirements regarding coordination between positions.