Assessor Resource

AVIE5002B
Apply air traffic control communication procedures and services

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit is critical to achieving safe, efficient and regular air traffic services. In the application of this unit, all media is considered including electronic means such as Controller-Pilot Datalink Communication (CPDLC), voice channels and light signals as used in control towers. It also includes the use of visual aids to communicate messages.

Operational control of the aircraft will include the initiation, continuation, termination, diversion or cancellation of the flight. Flight information provided by air traffic services will include critical operational information that enables the flight crew to make informed decisions regarding their flight.

Persons exercising competence in this unit will need to fulfil the licensing and regulatory requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority pertaining to air traffic controllers and/or the relevant military authority and any corporate requirements.

Use for ADF Aviation is to be in accordance with relevant Defence Orders and Instructions and applicable CASA compliance.

Work is performed under various levels of supervision dependent on workplace context, and in a team environment.

Communication is conducted across a variety of operational air traffic control contexts within the Australian aviation industry.

Work includes providing a flight information service (FIS) including directed traffic information, meteorological information, NOTAM and any other operational information associated with safe flight operations. FIS also includes issuing hazard and safety alerts to aircraft, and separating aircraft which, at times, will include passing on accurate traffic information and keeping this updated.

This unit of competency is packaged at Diploma level.

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to communicate effectively in an air traffic services environment. This includes clear and concise communication to pilots using all forms of communication media, the communication of information to coordinate with other air traffic services units and communication within a team to achieve effective teamwork. It also includes providing flight information with which the aircraft commander makes decisions concerning the operational control of flight. Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required knowledge and skills, the range statement and the assessment guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria of this unit and include demonstration of applying:

the underpinning knowledge and skills

relevant legislation and workplace procedures

other relevant aspects of the range statement

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts

Resources for assessment include:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulated practical and knowledge assessment, and/or

access to an appropriate range of relevant operational situations in the workplace

In both real and simulated environments, access is required to:

relevant and appropriate materials and equipment, and

applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals

Method of assessment

Assessment of this unit must be undertaken by a registered training organisation

As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests

Practical assessment must occur:

through activities in an appropriately simulated environment at the registered training organisation, and/or

in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

This describes the essential knowledge and skills and their level required for this unit.

Required knowledge:

Relevant sections of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations

Relevant OH&S and environmental protection procedures and regulations

Principles of effective communication

Communications procedures applicable in air traffic control services

Sections of the air traffic procedures manual and local instructions relevant to air traffic control communication procedures

Standard aviation radiotelephony and coordination phrases, including standard abbreviations as detailed in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

Non-standard forms of communication to aircraft and other control elements

Messaging formats and protocols

Communication media including voice, electronic, visual and written, including the capabilities, advantages and disadvantages of each

Handover-takeover procedures

Communication types including acknowledgements, inquiries and observations

Barriers to communication including sex, age, race, seniority, status and culture

Influences on communication including personal beliefs, attitudes, needs and personality

Misinterpretation of words such as frequently, likely, sometimes, never, usually and often

Communication error case studies

Interference with communication including workload, noise, expectations and distortion

Qualitative aspects of verbal communication including tone, emphasis, stress and frustration

Communication techniques including chunking of information

Communication requirements within teams including acknowledging, inquiring and observing

Frequencies, rated coverage and footprints of communications facilities within and immediately adjacent to the area of jurisdiction including Flightwatch services

Communication codes, abbreviations and conventions

Communications associated with emergency and/or abnormal operations

Readback requirements

Coordination procedures, requirements and phraseologies including non-coordination routes

Prompts and techniques used to assist and cue coordination and communications

Preferred order of response to incoming and outgoing communications commensurate with the safety imperative and service priorities

Speech delivery techniques using the English language including techniques for clear and concise delivery of communications

English language to a minimum of ICAO Operational Level 4 standard

Effects of fatigue on effective communication

Relevant equipment/facilities used in air traffic communications, its applications and the procedures for its use

Procedures to be followed in the event of equipment/facility failure

Safety hazards and risks that exist when using air traffic control communications procedures and related risk control procedures and precautions

Problems that may occur when using air traffic control communications procedures and appropriate action that should be taken in each case

Required skills:

Communicate clearly and concisely with others when applying air traffic control communication procedures and services

Use the most appropriate form of communication for the operational context

Use communication facilities to maintain contact with airspace users

Use the language of English to ICAO Operational Level 4 standard

Prioritise responses in accordance with operational procedures

Actively listen when applying air traffic control communication procedures and services

Interpret and record messages

Relay messages

Use both standard and non-standard radiotelephony and coordination phrases when applying air traffic control communication procedures and services

Read and interpret instructions, regulations, procedures and other information relevant to air traffic control communication procedures and services

Interpret and follow operational instructions and prioritise work

Perceive incoming information associated with strategic, tactical, geographic, spatial, system and environment components of a complex system

Comprehend incoming information and develop the current airspace and flight path model

Complete documentation related to air traffic control communication procedures and services

Format and issue communication messages

Work collaboratively with others when applying air traffic control communication procedures and services

Communicate in a team by exchanging information through assigning responsibility, acknowledgment, inquiring, and by recognising and noting facts that create team rapport and enhance team outputs

Perform handover-takeover to ensure continuity of teamwork and air traffic service

Adapt appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions with others

Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems that may occur when applying air traffic control communication procedures and services in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

Demonstrate temperament reflecting a calm, composed and cooperative characteristic and emotional response under challenging situations

Make decisions related to the prioritising of tasks and the projection of and planning for traffic and environmental events

Conduct aeronautical decision making

Project and develop future airspace and flight path scenarios

Maintain a strategic traffic management goal for the jurisdiction airspace

Implement contingency plans for unexpected events that may arise when using air traffic control communication procedures

Judge and form an opinion or evaluate situations by discerning and comparing information

Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist when applying air traffic control communication procedures and services

Modify activities dependent on differing workplace contingencies, situations and environments

Work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment

Implement OH&S procedures and relevant regulations

Allocate attention according to demand and constantly switch between: managing the Human-machine Interface (HMI) or equipment use; managing communications; and managing traffic

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance.

Operations may be conducted:

by day or night

in variable weather conditions

Performance may be demonstrated in:

simulated situations, and/or

an operational air traffic control workplace

Air traffic control workplace may be a workstation in :

Area Control

Approach Control

Aerodrome Control

Key aspects of providing operational information include:

operational control of aircraft will include the initiation, continuation, termination, diversion or cancellation of the flight. Flight information provided by air traffic services officers will include critical operational information that enables the flight crew to make informed decisions regarding the operational control of their flight

flight information can be issued by general broadcasts or by directing information to specific aircraft

operational information will include information regarding aircraft position, navigation, communication, other airways facilities, airspaces and air routes and air traffic services

Key aspects of providing traffic information include:

traffic information is derived by surveillance displays or using procedural criteria such as time and distance

Traffic Information Broadcasts by Aircraft (TIBA) procedures are also used in certain airspaces requiring the transition to and from such airspaces and adjusting ATS procedures

traffic information can be issued by general broadcasts or by directing information to specific aircraft. A general broadcast of traffic information might consist of military low level fast jet operations

Equipment used in air traffic control communications may include:

HF radio

VHF radio

signalling lamps

Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) equipment

fixed telephone

mobile telephone

computers (email and local area networks)

facsimile

Communications may include, but are not limited to:

provision of current observed and or automatically recorded aerodrome weather information

provision of prescribed aeronautical information

provision of navigational information

responses to requests

response to SAR alerting/IFER/AEP implementation or facility failure

instructions to pilots

provision of NOTAMs

responses to distress calls

Pilot-controller communications errors can be divided into ten distinct areas:

misinterpretable statements

inaccurate statements

inaccuracies in content

incomplete content

ambiguous phraseology

untimely transmissions

garbled phraseology

absent - not sent

absent - equipment failure

recipient not monitoring

Pilot-controller communication errors, as viewed from an operational perspective, can result in four main areas of operational error:

deviations from assigned altitudes and flight levels

deviations in headings

failures to 'hold short' of the active runway

deviations from airways routing

Communication errors tend to occur:

due to differences between the information-processing (way of thinking) strategies used by the flight crews and ATC. Also differences exist in the social environment within which the communication is taking place. Information processing communication failures might occur as a result of differences in mental models and differences in the perceived importance of the information concerned; this might include any expectations of the parties involved

Miscommunication within teams:

includes communication errors within flight crew teams, between flight crew and cabin crew and within air traffic control teams

is more prevalent than a lack of communication. As the aviation environment is highly proceduralised there exists the problem of crews (pilots and controllers) developing expectancy. As procedures are standardised, team members expect that particular procedures and the relevant communications will take place. This leads to an expectancy of what is to come and when errors are made they are not easily detected. This problem is also known as hearback error

The key elements of communication by air traffic controllers are:

the clarity with which the message is delivered

the brevity of the message (say only that which is required)

keeping the communications standard

considering the context within which the message is delivered

intonation (emphasis). Intonation is also important to the way the message is delivered. The variation in the pitch and tone of the communicator s voice can change the meaning of the message by influencing the way the message is interpreted

Critical aspects of communication are:

communication should advocate not who is right but what is right

communication requires listening if it is to be effective. Forty-two percent of an air traffic controller s time is spent listening. One of the largest problems contributing to the failure of communication within the aviation environment is the failure to hear or to hear accurately. Listening requires active involvement not passive attention

communication occurs at a cost. Human verbal communication is a resource intensive and consuming task; it degrades the visual image and it diverts attention away from the task(s) at hand. During busy periods of traffic, it is imperative that communications are clear and concise. If messages are not clear and concise and require repeating, excessive resources are likely to be depleted just to achieve a simple task. Workload will increase and the general level of service provided to aircraft will depreciate. In air traffic control, verbal communication constitutes a major medium with which to achieve air safety

effective communication is linked to a high grade of situation awareness

in teams where seniority contributes to a vertical hierarchy, junior members of the team might employ a communication strategy called mitigating language. The problem with this type of communication is that it is deliberately circumspect and is subject to misinterpretation. Therefore, a combination of expectancy and mitigating language might prove to increase the possibility of communication errors arising within teams

Reasons for communicating include:

to influence the receiver

to pass instructions

to coordinate ATC operations

to make contact

to confirm information

to link information

to receive feedback

to assist processing of information with which to make decisions

Communication methods include:

voice or verbal

electronic

body language

written words

light and other visual signals and signs

Dependent on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, workplace procedures may be referred to as:

company procedures

enterprise procedures

organisational procedures

established procedures

standard operating procedures

regulatory standards and recommended practices

Information/documents may include:

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations and Manuals of Standards (MOS)

Local Instructions (LI) and Temporary Local Instructions (TLI)

training curricula and syllabi

equipment manufacturers specifications and instructions

Manual of Air Traffic Services (MATS)

Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

workplace procedures, instructions

Training Standards Manual (TSM)

ICAO Document 4444, ATM/501, Procedures for Air Navigation Services, Air Traffic Management

occupational specification for air traffic controllers

industrial certified agreements and awards

training and assessment records

documented learning and assessment strategies

Applicable regulations and legislation may include:

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARP)

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) and Manuals of Standards (MOS)

relevant Defence Orders and Instructions

Airservices Act (Commonwealth) 1995

OH&S Legislation (state and federal)

Civil Aviation Act (Commonwealth) 1988 and the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 1995

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Communication delivery is clear, timely and delivered to a satisfactory standard 
Standard phrases are used 
Non-standard phrases are unambiguous and concise 
Active listening watch is maintained for all communication channels 
Readbacks are provided and obtained 
Delivery of voice messages are adjusted to suit receiver 
Messages are formatted and interpreted correctly 
Messaging protocols are followed 
Messages are correctly acknowledged 
Most effective method of communication is used 
Language is fluently spoken with no impediments 
Communication with airspace users is maintained by effective management of communication facilities 
Operational messages are coordinated and recorded when required 
Handover-takeover is performed to achieve continuity of teamwork and service 
Team members communications are acknowledged as received and understood 
Observations are verbalised to team members 
Inquiries are made with team members 
Frequency of communications with team members is adjusted to the circumstances 
Position and navigation information is provided when requested or required taking into account the method of control and surveillance 
Meteorological information is provided when required or requested 
Changes in the operational status of aids to navigation, air routes and airspaces affecting flight operations are provided when required or requested 
Changes in the operational status of communication facilities affecting flight operations are provided when required or requested 
Changes to air traffic services procedures affecting flight operations are provided when required or requested 
Hazard alerts concerning flight are issued when required in accordance with standard operating procedure 
Hazard alerts concerning flights are cancelled when able 
Safety alerts concerning flight are issued when required in accordance with standard operating procedure 
Safety alerts concerning flights are cancelled when able 
Operational flight information is coordinated if required 
Operational information issued is appropriately recorded 
Flight following is provided when requested and able 
Information concerning conflicting traffic is issued in accordance with standard operating procedure 
Information concerning other relevant traffic is issued in accordance with standard operating procedure 
Traffic avoidance advice is issued when appropriate and in accordance with standard operating procedure 
Traffic information is coordinated when required 
Traffic information and advice issued is appropriately recorded 
Sufficient information is obtained from relevant sources to determine the nature and implications of the pilot request 
An appropriate response is made to pilot requests 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AVIE5002B - Apply air traffic control communication procedures and services
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Assessment Record Sheet

AVIE5002B - Apply air traffic control communication procedures and services

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