What does the everyday working life of air traffic controllers with an HF diploma look like?

General job description:

The "Air Traffic Controller HF" course described here is the training course that prepares future air traffic controllers for work in the tower or in air traffic control.

Air traffic controllers ensure that every aircraft in their sector of responsibility maintains the prescribed minimum distance to the next aircraft. To this end, they issue instructions to the pilots regarding altitude, speed and course and check that the instructions are carried out. From the control tower, they direct the taxiing maneuvers, take-offs and landings of the aircraft. This also includes monitoring and accompanying small aircraft and helicopters, which fly according to visual flight rules and must be integrated into the instrument flight traffic around the airfield. In the approach control service, they guide the aircraft in the climb phase to the airways in the upper airspace and the approaching aircraft leaving the airways down to the airport. If there is too much traffic, they can direct aircraft into holding patterns. Working in the Area Control Center, air traffic controllers monitor aircraft movements in the airspace above Switzerland and neighboring countries. And with additional training, they can work for the Swiss Air Force and monitor military air traffic.

Fields of work and tasks:

Each of the following fields of work is considered a specialization for which a licence from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation FOCA is required. The air traffic controller can be deployed in one or more fields of work depending on the specialization and corresponding licence.

Note: The distribution of tasks (weighting and frequency) may vary depending on the task profile/job profile or function and company).

Target group and skills: Who is the air traffic controller training suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

Air traffic controller training is suitable for the following groups of people:

• Young professionals (between the ages of 18 and 28) in aviation-related or other professions who are looking for a new challenge
• High school graduates who are interested in an attractive and constantly evolving industry

Air traffic controllers HF should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Ability to multitask
• High sense of responsibility
• Meticulous way of working
• Reliable
• Resilient and stress-resistant
• Logical thinking
• Spatial imagination
• Technical understanding
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work in a team
• Flexible (irregular working hours)

Requirements for admission to air traffic controller training at a higher technical college

The higher technical colleges decide independently on the admission procedure for air traffic controller training.* The procedure can be found in the study regulations of the respective HF.

As a rule, the following admission requirements must be met in order to start training at a higher technical college to become an air traffic controller:

• Federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ) or high school diploma or other upper secondary level qualification

And

• Passing the Skyguide aptitude test (this consists of several comprehensive performance tests (e.g. concentration, perception, English language skills) and screenings (e.g. CV, behavior, personality, psychomotor skills)

And

• Passed initial medical examination at an aeromedical center (Medical Class 3)

In addition:

• Age between 18 and 28 at the start of training
• Swiss citizenship (mandatory for military training!) / citizen of EU-28/EFTA countries or C residence permit
• Language skills in German, French or Italian to at least level C1
• English language skills at level B2

Note:

Admitted students can have educational achievements already completed credited. Information on this can be obtained from theSkyguide Academy.

* The courses offered by the universities of applied sciences (HF) are based on framework curricula developed jointly by education providers and industry associations and approved by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). If the PET colleges adhere to existing framework curricula in the detailed design of their courses, their PET courses are federally recognized and lead to a protected title.

Subject matter and content of the training

When compiling the course material, the higher vocational colleges with air traffic controller training generally follow the specifications of the corresponding framework curriculum "Air Traffic Control".* Nevertheless, the higher vocational colleges have a certain amount of leeway in the design of their courses. There may therefore be differences as to which course content is ultimately covered and how it is structured.

As a rule, the following topics are addressed:

• Aircraft technology
• Meteorology
• Aerodynamics
• Air traffic control technology
• Aeronautical Information Service
• Navigation
• Air law
• Radio telephony
• Simulation training
• English

* The Skyguide Academy is the sponsor of the "Air Traffic Management" framework syllabus. The Academy is responsible for drawing up the framework syllabus and periodically reviewing it every seven years to ensure that it is up to date and of high quality. If necessary, the framework syllabus is subject to partial or total revision.

Costs and financing of further training

The costs are determined independently by the respective higher vocational colleges. In addition to the provider, the amount of the costs also depends on the training model and other services (e.g. supervision). In general, the following costs must be expected for air traffic controller training:

Tuition fees and wages:No course fees are payable for the "Air traffic controller HF / air traffic controller" course. The training is partly "on the job" and participants receive a training allowance. This salary is approx. CHF 4000 per month for the first (duration: 6 months) and second training stage (duration: 6 months), then approx. CHF 5000 for the third training stage (duration: 8-18 months).

Accommodation:Students who have more than an hour's commute to Wangen bei Dübendorf will be provided with free accommodation worth CHF 850. (Please note: the number of these accommodations is limited)

Duration of study, training model, number of lessons and learning effort

• Duration of study:The HF course to become a qualified air traffic controller HF takes 2.5 years.
• Training model:Air traffic controller training is offered and completed exclusively on a full-time basis. The training consists of a mixture of theoretical lessons, exercises on simulators and on-the-job training as well as the writing of a diploma thesis.
  • In the first year of training, basic training (basic training and rating training, 12 months in total) takes place at the skyguide training center in Wangen near Dübendorf with a theory block and simulations (tower and radar).
  • In the second year (unit training, duration: 8-18 months), the prospective air traffic controllers specialize and continue their training at their future place of work. They train on the job and on the simulator at civil or military airfields, in an air traffic control center or in the military operations center. At the end of the training, the trainee receives the appropriate FOCA license for the chosen field of work. This license is renewed through further training and retests.
• Number of lessons:The course comprises at least 5400 learning hours*, which are divided into academic and practical training components. A distinction is made between the following educational components: contact study (analog and/or digital synchronous supervision by teachers), guided self-study (commissioned learning tasks), individual self-study, internships (working in a practice-oriented or real field of work under the supervision of specialists and under the supervision of the training providers) The exact distribution of learning hours between the educational components is set out in the framework curriculum.
• Learning effort:You should allow sufficient time to prepare for and follow up on the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style, learning speed and chosen training model. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week for the part-time model.

* Within the framework of a maximum of 10% of the total learning hours, the training providers can set content priorities or specializations. However, the protected title of the "Certified Air Traffic Controller HF" course remains unchanged.

Degree, diploma and title

After each individual training phase, candidates for air traffic controller training must pass tests. These consist of theoretical and practical tests and passing each individual test is a prerequisite for continuing the training.

The final qualification procedure for air traffic controllers consists of the following parts
(Note: The details of implementation are regulated by the respective HF in its study regulations).

• Practice-orientedDiploma thesisThe diploma thesis is written by the candidates on one of the competencies specific to the profession. The topic should also have a practical and economic benefit. Furthermore, the thesis is presented by the candidates and then defended in an expert discussion.
• Oral and/or writtenExaminations

Diploma and title

Graduates of the course receive an HF diploma and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected professional title "Dipl. Flugverkehrsleiter HF / dipl. Flugverkehrsleiterin HF".

• In French: "Contrôleur de la circulation aérienne diplômée ES / Contrôleuse de la circulation aérienne diplômée ES"
• In Italian: "Controllore del traffico aereo dipl. SSS / Controlla del traffic aereo dipl. SSS"
• In English (recommendation, but not a protected title!): "Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Air Traffic Control"