Air traffic control (ATC) is one of the most demanding and rewarding careers in aviation. But what does it take to succeed in ATC training, and what are Airways’ secrets to high ATC training success rates?
In a recent podcast episode, Global Airspace Radar’s Katarzyna Żmudzińska sat down with two Airways International leaders – Jonny Cooke, Head of Products, and Philipp Zeitel, Training Quality Manager – to explore these questions in depth.
The ATC selection process is designed to identify individuals with the specific cognitive skills, decision-making abilities, and calm under pressure nature required for this critical role in aviation. Jonny and Philipp emphasised that success in ATC training starts long before candidates enter the classroom – it begins with a robust, objective and science-based selection system.
During the conversation, Jonny and Philipp explain the story behind the Airways approach. The air navigation service provider has developed and refined its own recruitment and selection process called SureSelect that consistently delivers outstanding results – drawing on over 30 years of experience in selecting and training air traffic controllers.
They explore some of their strategies to widen the funnel in the ATC selection process; why they advocate for unsupervised testing to be an integral part of any air navigation service provider’s ATC selection approach; and how this has worked for Airways. Jonny and Philipp also explore what makes Airways’ approach to Assessment Centres worth the investment.
With 92 per cent success rates in the Airways Training Academy and 98 per cent in on-the-job training over the past 12 years, Airways’ results demonstrate the power of a data-driven, evidence-based selection model.
This podcast episode provides a deep dive into the science and strategy behind ATC selection and training success. Tune in to hear Jonny and Philipp share their expertise, and answer common questions from candidates and industry professionals.
