The solutions aims at increasing flexibility of air traffic controller (ATCO) deployment by relaxing the obligation for ATCOs to be sector-specifically endorsed, e.g. a unit endorsement, and to compensate the expected lack of sector-specific knowledge and working routine by procedural or technical means.

In considering this, one of the key points of the Airspace Architecture Study (AAS), sector-independent ATS Operations, was addressed. The scope under this solution also contributes to the ATM Master Plan Essential Operational Change (EOC) “Fully dynamic and optimised airspace”.

The key to a more flexible ATCO rostering is a reduction of supervised training time spent by the ATCO in on-the-job training, as well as a reduction of the effort needed to maintain unit endorsements. This enables air traffic controllers to obtain, hold and maintain more unit endorsements than today within a reasonable time and effort. A second option towards more flexible ATCO rostering is to make unit endorsements (or at least parts of it) valid for more sectors, avoiding a multiple training for similar Air Traffic Control (ATC) tasks in these sectors.

BENEFITS

More flexible resource allocation

Greater cost and operational efficiency