Training Course

Terminal Controller course

Skills

Welcome to the Terminal Controller course! 

Terminal Control, sometimes abbreviated as TMA or TCA and also known as Approach Control (APP), mainly handles IFR traffic operating into and out of an airport and sometimes enroute traffic. Approach control marshals departing aircraft from shortly after take-off to 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. They are handed off to the aerodrome (TWR) controller (or, sometimes, to an arrivals director during busy events). At busy aerodromes, particularly during events, Approach Control can have one controller handling departures (DEP) and another handling approach (APP).

It is demanding to take many aircraft from all directions and sequence them onto the final approach. The required training is as intense as anything 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, 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:

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

Practical component:

Training is conducted using EuroScope on the ATC simulator as NZAA_APP. At the instructor's discretion, students may undertake online mentoring sessions on NZAA_APP. An endorsement to practise solo on NZAA_APP is available to provide students with operational experience before the final practical examination. 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 the 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 Procedural Approach Control endorsement)
6. TWR top-down principles (NZAA, NZWP)

Lesson 2: IFR Departures

Session Type: Simulator

Topics: