Training Course
Terminal Controller course (S3 rating)

Skills

Welcome to the Terminal Controller course! 

Terminal Control, sometimes abbreviated as TMA and TCA and also known as Approach Control (APP), handles traffic operating beyond the vicinity of an airport. Approach control marshals departing aircraft from shortly after take-off onto their enroute phase of flight, at which point they are handed off to the enroute (ENR) controller. Approach control also accepts arrivals from ENR and directs them towards the final approach to a runway, at which point they are handed off to the aerodrome (TWR) controller. At busy aerodromes, particularly during VATSIM events, Approach Control can have a controller handling the departures (DEP) with another on arrivals (APP).

It is demanding to take many aircraft from all directions and sequence them onto the final approach. The training required is as intense as can be found on VATSIM.

This course provides a basic understanding of approach control and outlines the responsibilities of the different control positions. 

On achieving your Approach Control rating (S3), you'll be able to control the following positions within VATNZ airspace:

  • Approach (APP)
  • Departure (DEP)
  • Towers with Procedural Approach control (TWR) - however, note the recommendation below.

Theory component:

Study of the course materials followed by a written examination. Candidates must score 80% or better to progress to the practical training. The 72-hour stand-down rule between attempts applies.

Practical component:

Training is conducted using EuroScope on the SweatBox simulator as NZAA_APP. Students may undertake online mentoring sessions on NZAA_APP at the instructor's discretion. An endorsement to practise solo on NZAA_APP is available to provide students with operational experience before the final assessment. Students must gain proficiency (not necessarily mastery) in each lesson before proceeding to the next.

Lesson 1: Setup, SOPs

 Session Type: General Discussion

Topics:

  1. Review of written examination 
  2. Auckland TMA SOPs, including coordination between relevant TWRs (NZAA, NZWP) and ENR (NZAA_CTR and NZCH-B_CTR)
  3. Types of departures and associated aids to navigation
  4. Types of approaches and associated aids to navigation
  5. Introduction to, or review of, procedural approach control theory and practice (this will take several sessions if the student does not hold the S2 Procedural Approach Control endorsement)
  6. TWR top-down principles (NZAA, NZWP)

 

Lesson 2: IFR Departures

Session Type: SweatBox

Topics:

  1. Set up EuroScope for approach control
  2. Assuming and releasing or transferring tags, including to and from UNICOM, and issuing squawk codes
  3. Radar identification on departure
  4. Climb instructions (cancelling SID or speed and altitude restrictions) and terrain clearance
  5. Notification, coordination and transfer (handing off)
 
Lesson 3: IFR Arrivals
 
Session Type: SweatBox
 
Topics:
 
  1. Arrival information (e.g. ATIS) and issuing squawk codes if required
  2. Separation requirements (e.g. visual, vertical, radar)
  3. Terrain clearance
  4. STAR and non-standard arrivals
  5. Level instructions
  6. Radar vectoring
  7. Holding
  8. Instrument approaches (ILS, RNAV/RNP, VOR, NDB)
  9. Visual approaches
  10. Speed control and speed restrictions 
  11. Circuit integration
  12. Missed approach
  13. Frequency change instructions/handoff and coordination
 
Lesson 4: Controlled VFR and Radar Monitoring
 
        1. Controlled VFR in TMA
        2. Radar monitoring
 
 
 
Lesson 5: Uncontrolled aerodromes under controlled airspace
 
  1. Departures from uncontrolled airspace (NZAR and NZNE)
  2. Arrivals into uncontrolled airspace (NZAR and NZNE)
  3. Traffic information
  4. Frequency change instructions 
  5. Termination of flight plans
 

Lesson 6: Consolidation

Session Type: SweatBox/online
Location: NZAA
Topics: All topics. Students may be granted endorsement to practise solo when they are near the standard required for an assessment.

Assessment:

Session Type: SweatBox 
Comments: Practical assessment covering all topics per the VATSIM GCAP.

Awarded On Completion

  • Terminal (Approach) Controller (VATSIM S3) rating

Mentors

  • Levi Daniel – Mentor
  • James Ford-Hathaway – Senior Instructor
  • Fenton Loveday – Deputy Training Director/Senior Instructor
  • Tom Lyall – Instructor
  • Ben Marling – Mentor
  • Gary Parata – Training Director/Senior Instructor
  • Mark Richards – Senior Instructor
  • Mikey Robinson – Mentor
  • Connor Sumner – Instructor

Requirements

To enrol in this course you must meet the following requirements:

RequirementMinimum
Minimum Controller RatingTower Controller
Controller Hours100
Completed Aerodrome Controller course (S2 rating)Yes
Controller Hours since completing Aerodrome Controller course (S2 rating)50
DivisionMust be a member of one of the following divisions:
  • Australia/Pacific (VATPAC)
  • New Zealand (VATNZ)

Amplifications to the requirements:

  • Candidates must have held the S2 Aerodrome Controller rating for at least one month.
  • Candidates must have operated TWR (aerodrome control) positions across at least three aerodromes.
  • Time as an S2 on DEL or GND positions does not count towards the 50-hour requirement.

Restriction:

  • Despite the Division Requirement above, VATPAC members are not permitted to enrol in this course. They must undertake training with the VATPAC ATC Training Academy. The statement is generated due to qualified VATPAC S3 controllers being allowed automated access to the VATNZ S3 training materials by mutual agreement.

Recommendation:

  • While holding the S2 Procedural Approach control endorsement is not mandatory to enrol in this course, it is highly recommended.
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