Facility & Equipment Rating Requirements

Date Code Version Contact
2010-04-04 CPS-002 2.03 Facility Advisory Board (FAB)

1. PURPOSE:

This Center Policy Statement (CPS) outlines the requirements for controllers, both ZOA and visiting, to become rated to operate facilities and to use special equipment under the Center Training Program.

2. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This Center Policy Statement shall be maintained, revised, updated or cancelled by the Facility Advisory Board and shall be effective unless there is a conflict with the VATUSA/VATSIM policies, in which case they shall supercede these policies.

3. DISTRIBUTION:

This CPS is applicable to all controllers, both ZOA and visiting from other ARTCC's.

4. BACKGROUND:

Each VATUSA ARTCC is granted the authority to establish local procedures for facility certification within their organization. This policy statement shall explain ZOA requirements for facility certification and special rating endorsements.

5. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FACILITY RATINGS:

  1. New students, Transfers, Visiting controllers and current TWR uncertified students must:

    • Have taken and passed the ZOA SOP Written Exam.
    • Have received a welcome letter from the Membership Director, received operating initials, and have been added to the ZOA controller roster.
    • Work any position under the direct supervision of a ZOA Instructor, Training Administrator, Air Traffic Manager, Deputy Air Traffic Manager, Mentor, or any persons authorized by the aforementioned, for a period of time of their discretion.

  2. Class C & D Airspace

    1. All Class C & D towered airports are allocated for self-monitored training purposes and may be worked unsupervised DURING ALL HOURS only when the following requirements have been met:
      • Have received a welcome letter from the DATM or Membership Director, received operating initals, and have been added to the ZOA controller roster.
      • Have taken and passed the ZOA SOP written exam.
      • Have taken and passed the ZOA Delivery/Ground written exam.

    2. To work Delivery or Ground Control at Class C & D airports after these requirements are met - these only apply if the student is not already an S1 rating:
      • Have taken and passed the ZOA S1 PV exam.
      • Have been promoted to Student-1 (S1).

    3. To work Local Control (Tower) at Class C & D airports after these requirements are met - these only apply if the student is not already an S2 rating:
      • Have taken and passed the VATUSA Tower Controller (S2) written exam.
      • Have taken and passed the ZOA S2 PV exam.
      • Have been promoted to Student-2 (S2).

  3. CLASS B Airspace (SFO)

    1. To work Delivery or Ground Control at SFO:
      • Have met all requirements above to work Delivery or Ground Control at Class C & D airports.
      • Have taken and passed the ZOA Delivery/Ground PV exam at SFO.

    2. To work Local Control (Tower) at SFO:
      • Have met all requirements above to work Delivery & Ground Control at SFO.
      • Have met all requirements above to work Tower at Class C & D airports.
      • Have taken and passed the ZOA SFO Tower written exam at SFO.
      • Have taken and passed the ZOA SFO Tower PV exam at SFO.

  4. RENO / FRESNO APPROACHES

    1. To operate an Approach/Departure Sector other than NORCAL a controller must:
      • Have met all previous requirements above, thru SFO Tower certification.
      • Have taken and passed the VATUSA Approach Controller (S3) written exam.
      • Have been promoted to Student-3 (S3). A Student-2 (S2) may ONLY work these positions with an instructor/mentor present during a one on one Training Session or PV Exam.

  5. NORCAL APPROACH/DEPARTURE SINGLE SECTOR

    1. To operate a NORCAL Approach/Departure Sector a controller must:
      • Have met all previous requirements above.
      • Have taken and passed the ZOA Norcal Approach written exam.
      • Are either fully certified to work the sector they want to plug in to, or have received a Self Monitored Training (SMT) endorsement for that sector, or have an instructor/mentor online providing a one on one Training Session.

    2. Controllers will be trained and certified in each Norcal Approach sector as they progress, SFO and OAK being the final two sectors of training.

  6. NORCAL APPROACH COMBINED

    1. To operate an Approach/Departure Combined:
      • Have met all previous requirements above.
      • Have taken and passed the VATUSA Center Controller (C1) written exam.
      • Have taken and passed the ZOA Norcal Approach PV exam.

    2. FULL NORCAL CERTIFIED CONTROLLERS will be allowed to work All Norcal sectors.

    3. Any Approach Controller working multiple sectors must relinquish control of any sector other than the primary sector he/she is logged on under to a any qualified controller upon request.

  7. CENTER

    1. To operate a Center Position a controller must:
      • Have met all previous requirements above.
      • Have taken and passed the Oakland Center Written Exam.
      • Are either fully certified to work the Center, or have an instructor/mentor online providing a one on one Training Session. Self Monitored Training on Center is not permitted by VATSIM.
      • Once the controller takes and passes his Center PV exam he'll be promoted to the rating Controller-1 (C1)

  8. SENIOR CONTROLLER

    1. Senior Controller (C3) is no longer a rating that can be earned on VATSIM. It is only given by appointment by VATUSA after a recommendation from the controller's ATM/DATM/TA. This rating is now more of an "award" type rating to recognize significant contributions to the controller's home ARTCC.

6. INSTRUCTIONAL RATINGS:

  1. Mentor

    The requirements for obtaining a mentor rating are:

    • A recommendation for the rating by the Air Traffic Manager, Deputy Air Traffic Manager, or Training Administrator with the approval of the Training Administrator.
    • The passing of a Mentor PV by the Training Administrator or his designee. The mentor PV may be waived by the Training Administrator at his discretion.

  2. Instructor

    The requirements for obtaining an instructor rating are:

    • Staff Instructors are appointed and removed in accordance with the VATUSA Policy.
    • ZOA staff Instructors shall be assigned rating "I-1" (Instructor) while performing as a staff instructor. Upon removal from the staff instructor role, they shall return to the last held controller grade.
    • The Training Administrator may be recommended by the ARTCC Chief to the VATUSA Training Department for assignment of the "I-3" (Sr. Instructor) rating. They will retain this rating if they vacate the Training Administrator position, but remain as a staff instructor. Upon removal from the staff instructor role, they shall be returned to the last held controller grade.
    • Staff Instructors must pass all written exams in force during the period they hold the instructor position.
    • Candidates for Instructor Rating must meet this requirement prior to appointment.
    • Current Instructors shall have 30 days to comply with this requirement for any new written exam added to the training program.

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