Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

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

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the 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
Processes and techniques must be equitable and fulfil regulatory requirements. This includes the assessment of language and literacy proficiency to the required workplace standard

Resources for assessment include:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and 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/or equipment, and/or
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 appropriately simulated activities at the registered training organisation, and/or
in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace