Levant vACC Air Traffic Services Training Policy for Controllers - Levant vACC Controller Library

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ATS Training Policy

Policy Information

Control Information
Type Policy
Revision R01/2025
Effective Date 11 SEP 2025
Prepared by Joshua Ong - ACCLEV3
Approved by Jordan Townsend - ACCLEV1
Next review date 08 MAR 2026
Cancelled documents Levant vACC ATS Policy for Home/Visiting Members

Record of Revisions

Revision Date Notes Author
R01/2025 11 SEP 2025 Initial Release Joshua Ong

General Provisions

Scope

This policy establishes the training procedures for controllers operating in both their home and visiting capacities within the Levant vACC. It delineates the various phases of training that controllers are anticipated to traverse in order to advance within the VATSIM rating system.

This policy takes precedence over any existing training policies for home and visiting controllers within the Levant vACC official training system. In cases of uncertainty regarding the appropriate process for a student, they should refer to this document and adhere to the applicable procedure(s).

Foundations for ATC Students

Software

Controller Client

EuroScope is the primary radar client used for controlling within the Levant vACC. It can be downloaded from the Euroscope website. All Levant vACC sector files are specifically designed to work with EuroScope only.

The AIS Department releases updated sector files every AIRAC cycle to ensure controllers have the latest navigation data and any changes relevant to the FIRs.

Sector files for each FIR can be downloaded from the AeroNav GNG website, with direct links to each FIR below:

A detailed setup guide for installing EuroScope and the Levant vACC sector files will be available soon on our youtube channel.

Audio Client(s)

To communicate with pilots while controlling on the network, you must install an approved Audio for VATSIM (AFV) client. Supported options include Audio for VATSIM and/or TrackAudio.

vATIS Client

To provide pilots with up-to-date aerodrome operational information, you will need the vATIS Client.

The AIS Department releases regular updates to our vATIS profiles to ensure all relevant airport conditions and NOTAMS are simulated and shown on the ATIS. You may download the vATIS Profiles from our Google drive.

The Waiting List

Before a controller can be offered a place in a training plan, they must first express their interest and be added to the waiting list.

After completing all prerequisites outlined in the Training Plan section, the controller must submit a support ticket through the Levant vACC Discord to confirm their eligibility.

Controllers will only be enrolled into a training plan once all requirements have been fully met.

Maintaining Your Spot on the Waiting List

To remain on the waiting list, controllers must:

  • Stay active on the Levant vACC ATC roster
  • Maintain residency within the Levant vACC

Controllers who do not meet these conditions will be removed from the waiting list.

Losing Your Spot on the Waiting List

The Arabian vACC ATC Training Department reserves the right to remove a controller from the waiting list without prior notice in circumstances including, but not limited to:

  • Disciplinary action taken against the controller
  • Repeated negative feedback received while controlling positions associated with their current rating

Minimum Controller Activity

All resident and visiting controllers within the Levant vACC must log a minimum of 3 hours of ATC activity per calendar quarter to remain active on the controller roster.

Failure to meet this requirement will result in automatic removal from the roster and any associated training plan or waiting list.

The calendar quarters are defined as follows:

  • Quarter 1 (Q1) - 1st January to 31st March
  • Quarter 2 (Q2) - 1st April to 30th June
  • Quarter 3 (Q3) - 1st July to 30th September
  • Quarter 4 (Q4) - 1st October to 31st December

Training Plan

To be eligible for enrollment in a training plan on Hayya, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a resident of the Levant vACC and in good standing.
  • Have successfully completed the relevant divisional rating exam.

Controllers seeking to progress beyond the S1 rating must also:

  • Be active on the Levant vACC Controller Roster.
  • Have accumulated a minimum of 50 hours controlling under their current rating.
  • Have no significant negative feedback on record.

Members are not permitted to reject their assigned training aerodrome, terminal sector, or enroute sector in the expectation of receiving an alternative offer for a preferred position.

Members on the waiting list may be offered a training plan for a specific aerodrome or sector. If the member declines the offer, they may be removed from the waiting list at the discretion of the ATS Training Department.

This policy ensures fair and efficient use of training resources and minimizes delays for all members in the training pipeline.

Training Facilities Across Levant vACC FIRs

Training may be conducted within any of the Levant vACC's three FIRs, The available training facilities are as follows:

  • Aerodrome (S1/S2)

    • Baghdad International Airport (ORBI)
    • Beirut Hariri International Airport (OLBA)

  • Terminal (S3)

    • Baghdad TMA (ORBI)
    • Beirut CTR (OLBA)

  • Enroute (C1)

    • Baghdad FIR (ORBB)

Training Engagement and Availability Expectations

ATC training within the Levant vACC is a rigorous process. Given the number of students and the limited number of available mentors and instructors, training resources must be used efficiently. To support this, members enrolled in a training plan are expected to demonstrate consistent engagement and flexibility.

Availability Requirements

  • Maintaining Availability: Students must keep their availability on their discord training thread up-to-date at all times while holding a position within a training plan.
  • Diverse Availability: Students should aim to provide a wide range of availability. Including daytime, evenings, and weekends where possible. As mentors and instructors may be located in different time zones, flexibility significantly increases the likelihood of receiving training sessions.
  • Session Cancellations: If a student needs to cancel a scheduled session or withdraw a session request, they must either remove their availability on their discord training thread or notify their mentor or instructor directly with a minimum notice time of 12 hours. Failing to do so will result in the student's training being delayed.

Recommendations to Improve Training Opportunities

To increase the likelihood of receiving training sessions, students are strongly encouraged to:

  • Enter as much availability as possible for the upcoming 14 days
  • Provide availability in blocks of at least 90 minutes, with longer periods preferred

Discretionary Removal

The ATS Department Director reserves the right to remove a member from a training plan at their discretion in circumstances including, but not limited to:

  • Consistent lack of progress compared to expected training milestones.
  • Lack of engagement with the training course or communication with training staff.
  • Disciplinary action taken against the member.
  • Repeated negative feedback while controlling positions the member is already rated for.

All forfeiture decisions will be made in alignment with the broader goals of maintaining fairness, efficiency, and high standards across the training program.

Self-Study

Students are expected to engage with the theoretical content provided in the Arabian vACC Library (As we are currently working on our own theoretical content) outside of their scheduled mentoring sessions. This includes, but is not limited to, reviewing assigned readings, practicing relevant skills, and deepening their understanding of core concepts. Mentors and instructors may also suggest additional resources or encourage observation of experienced controllers.

After each mentoring session, mentors and instructors will provide comprehensive feedback. It is the student's responsibility to carefully review these reports and address any areas highlighted by the mentor for improvement. This may involve independent study on certain topics or revisiting specific techniques. Research consistently shows that students who actively engage with feedback and make necessary adjustments tend to progress more rapidly through training and perform better on exams.

Arriving unprepared for a session, whether through a lack of review of session reports or theoretical material, is considered unprofessional. Mentors and instructors are within their rights to end a session prematurely if they feel that the student has not made adequate efforts to prepare. In such cases, a report will be submitted to the ATS Department Director for further review. This may lead to the student's removal from the training plan if insufficient progress or engagement is noted.

Asking for Help

In aviation, there are no "stupid" questions—it's always better to ask than to remain silent. The ATS Department staff, instructors, and mentors are always available and happy to assist students with any questions related to their training. Students are encouraged to direct their questions to our ATS Department staff.

Solo Validations

In accordance with the VATSIM Middle East & North Africa Division ATC Training Policy, the Levant vACC is responsible for issuing solo validations for students working toward their tower, approach, and center ratings. The responsibility for these validations lies with the assigned mentor or instructor. The following solo validations may be granted:

  • Tower:
    • Available to Levant vACC residents training for S2.
    • Granted for the position where the student's training has taken place.
    • Valid for up to 90 days.
  • Approach:
    • Available to Levant vACC residents training for S3.
    • Granted for the position where the student's training has taken place.
    • Valid for up to 90 days.
  • Centre:
    • Available to Levant vACC residents training for C1.
    • Granted for the position where the student's training has taken place.
    • Valid for up to 90 days.

Solo validations will only be granted for a maximum of 30 days at a time before a practical exam is required. If a student does not pass the exam, they may continue to operate under a solo validation after receiving additional mentoring sessions. Students holding a solo validation are authorized to control at any time on their assigned training position, including during events, without the presence of a mentor.

Examinations

Theoretical

All theoretical modules and exams for the S1, S2, S3, and C1 ratings are available through the Middle East & North Africa Academy. Completion of these modules and exams is required to be eligible for enrollment in a training plan.

Practical

When a student, in agreement with their mentor or instructor, feels ready, they can submit a request for an examination through the ATS Department. Before being forwarded for a practical exam, students will be consulted to ensure they are fully prepared, and additional training can be arranged if requested by the student.

For S2 exams, there will be one local examiner present. S3 and C1 exams will have both a divisional examiner and a local examiner in attendance.

All exams are open-book. Students are encouraged to use any available resources to assist in answering questions. Examiners prefer that students know where to find information rather than guess. However, students are prohibited from soliciting answers from others on the network. Any attempt to do so will result in an automatic failure of the exam.

Exams typically last up to 90 minutes, with a maximum allowable duration of 120 minutes, followed by a debriefing session with the examiners to conclude the assessment process. If the debrief cannot be conducted on the same day as the CPT, it will be rescheduled to a time convenient for the student and examiner(s).

The possible outcomes of the exam are as follows:

  • Pass
  • Incomplete (to be continued at a later date)
  • Fail

An exam will not be marked as a pass if:

  • Any competency is marked as fail or not assessed.
  • Three or more competencies are marked as inadequate.

If the student passes the exam, the result will be posted on the Levant vACC Discord, and the rating will be issued within 48 hours after the exam report has been submitted. If the exam is marked as incomplete, the request will be retained, and the exam will be continued with either the same or different examiners at a later date.

In the event of a failure, the examiners will conduct a thorough debrief and create a remedial training plan, which will be forwarded to the student's mentor or instructor.