Irish Aviation Authority SMC Engineering Training and Competency

Dave WinshipHead of Operational EngineeringIrish Aviation Authority

Scope

• IAA Engineering Scope of Operations

• Role of SMC Engineer

• SMC Training Programme

• Assessments

• Challenges

Who are the IAA?

IAA Commercial ‘semi-State’~700 staff at six locations around Ireland

to carry out; – Air Traffic Management (ATM)– Safety Regulation.

Irish Aviation Authority

IAA Eng. staffed locations

4

Shannon EnrouteATCC (H24)

CorkTower(H8)

DublinTower(H24)

NAC (HF Radio)

(H8)

SMC function(TCD - TECHNICAL CONTROL DESK)

in Shannon ATCC & Dublin

IAA Engineering Structure

• Structure evolving:From separate Technology (Projects delivery) & Operations to Integrated “Technical Services” Organisation in Q4 2018

• The IAA employs ~80 engineers to manage, maintain, procure and upgrade complex ATM systems.

– Domain Managers (Comms & Nav, Surv, Datacomms, FDP) – ATM Specialists (Technical Project Mgt & Ops support)– Principal Engineers (scheduled maint, Ops support. projects)– SMC (System Monitoring & Control) Engs in Shannon & Dublin Centres

on 24/7 roster

IAA Engineering Recruitment

• Traditionally vast majority of IAA technical staff have been recruited at SMC level

• Very few have any aviation or ATM systems experience or knowledge on entry (specialist sector with almost no ATM systems suppliers in Ireland and only small number of non-IAA regional airports)

• Entry criteria Degree qualified in appropriate technical subject(e.g. Electronic Eng., Telecomms Eng.)

• Currently Irish jobs market for engineers is v competitive and IAA SMC 24/7 shift roles proving difficult to fill

SMC Scope of Activities

First level system restorative actions have been condensed into a set of fundamental Systems Monitoring and Control (SMC) tasks / procedures

– Conduct daily / weekly SMC level inspections– Monitor status of equipment, systems, services – Intervention to enable appropriate & timely

restorative action to be taken in the event of a failure.

– reset or replacement of equipment and/or SMC level reconfiguration of Systems.

1. SMC Engineer Responsibilities

24/7 Engineering Operations presence for ensuring the optimum continuity and delivery of services to users.

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

Liaison with users, adjacent control centres and external organisations.

Recognising and responding to any degradation of service, taking appropriate action to ensure or restore services.

Initiating requests for additional staff assistance (call out) (Restoration & Response Requirements document defines prioritisation)

Maintaining record of events, including tracking of system availability

Training Philosophy

• Detailed in IAA’s ATSEP “Framework Document” “Direct SMC competence route” in context of 2017/3731

• Primarily provided in-house by IAA engineers2

• From recruitment to SMC takes approx. 9-10 months o training including OJT & shadowing

1 GM ATSEP.OR.210(b)2 With exception of specialist courses (e.g. Linux & networking, first aid etc.)

SMC Training & Comp Asst

Overview of the IAA Engineer Training and Competency Assessment:

1. Induction Training2. SMC Training3. OJT Training4. Competency Assessment5. Shadowing Duties

Phases in SMC Training

The progression of Engineering training can be summarised by the following diagram

InductionTraining and AssessmentProgramme

SMCTraining and AssessmentProgramme

PASS

FAIL

Authorisation to Work

Unsupervised is Withdrawn

PASS

FAIL

Authorised for UnsupervisedSMC Duties

Training Review /Reassess /Refer to HR

Induction Training

Will provide general knowledge of IAA’s CNS/ATM Services :

• Communication, • Navigation, • Surveillance and • Air Traffic Management systems

Will also provide information on• internal and external agencies related to service delivery

It is a step that enables progression towards more specialised training

Induction ProgrammeCourse No of Days

IP1 - Welcome/Company Policies 0.5

IP1 - Engineering Overview 0.5

IP2 - Security Requirements/Swipe/IT 0.5

IP4 - ATC Overview 0.5

IP4 - NACC and Ballygireen Overview / FAM Visit 0.5

IP3 -Overview of Engineering Training and Competency 0.5

IP5 – Safety Regulation Division Overview 0.25

IP6 - Overview of ICAO/Eurocontrol 0.25

IP9 ‐ Familiarisation with Other Agencies 0.5

IP10 - Overview of Navaids 0.5

IP10 - Overview of Comms 0.5

IP10 - Overview of FDP 0.5

IP10 - Overview of Surveillance 0.5

IP11 - Complete 1 SMC Shadow Duties 2

Induction phase exam

• The Induction Phase includes a multiple choice examination.

• A minimum pass mark of 70% is required before progression to SMC training.

.

SMC Training

Extract from CompetencyAssessmentFrameworkDocument

Post induction SMC Training Process

SMC Training Program

Course No of DaysSMC1 - Roles and Responsibilities of SMC Engineer 1

SMC10 ‐ Surveillance Sensors 2SMC12(a) - ARTAS/MRTS/Bypass/EASDS 3SMC12(b) ‐ Gorgy Clocks & ETFMS/Regionals 1SMC12(c) ‐ ODS Consoles & Barco Displays 1SMC13- - Mechanical & Electrical & Exam 4SURV Exam & Mentoring 5SMC14 ‐ ILS and other NAV 3SMC15 ‐ IRVR 2NAVAIDS EXAM & Mentoring 5SMC2 ‐ Safety Management/MOR/Just Culture 4Linux Training & IP Training 5

SMC Module examples: Programme • Circa ~182 days of

training over ~36 weeks• E.g. April > Dec 2018

Typically Groups of 5-6 recruits progressed each time

SMC Training Examination

• All SMC Modules include a multiple choice exam Minimum pass mark of 70% is required before progression to dedicated Station specific OJT.

• PC tool used to manage Multiple Choice Exams– Order of questions randomised (at each sitting)– Order of possible answers is randomised

• SMC Examinations scheduled in blocks

Station Specific OJT

Pre-Assessment Recruit Engineers complete periods of On the Job Training (OJT) as scheduled in the SMC training programme, at a designated station

During this time engineers will be working days and overseen by SMC competent engineers. The aim is to ensure that the trainee is fully familiar with all the System Monitoring and Control (SMC) Tasks as detailed in the OJT Manual.

Trainees familiarise themselves with all possible questions/answers and the Scenario manual.

The SMC Coordinator will monitor he progress of the Engineer to ensure training has been completed for all the System Monitoring and Control Tasks.

Shannon TCD

IAA Competency Assessment

SMC Competency Assessment (repeated every 2 years)

• 1 Hour Multiple Choice Examination

• A 2 hour operational observation period (includes as a minimum 5 scenarios from the scenarios manual. Throughout this period all documentation that is routinely available to the engineer can be consulted with the exception of the Scenario manual.

• A minimum pass mark of 70% for the multiple choice examinations and successful completion of the 2 hour observation period is required.

– Newly Recruited engineers must complete an initial SMC competency assessment.

– The SMC competency assessment is applicable to all engineers liable for SMC duties every 2 years.

Station ‘Shadowing Duties’

Post-Assessment Engineers undertake several* weeks ‘Shadowing’ duties at their assigned Unit

During this time engineers will work the station shift roster

* At least 4 weeks

OJT Checklist (sample extract)

– Trainees complete as part of preparations for Comp Asst.– Also used if staff absent from SMC shift duties for > 4 months

Appendix 4: Systems Monitoring and Control (SMC) Tasks Section A Role and responsibilities of the Systems Manager (Engineer) Initials • Understanding of the role and responsibilities of the Systems Manager ………. • Knowledge of the systems under the control of the Systems Manager ………. • Procedure and ability to complete log entries ………. • Procedure and ability to compile and update the Daily Status Report ………. • Procedure and ability to file MOR ………. • Procedure and ability to file a NOTAM ………. • Procedure and ability to release/restore of operational systems ………. • Procedure when LVPs are introduced ………. • Emergency procedures and the Systems Manager ………. • Ability to complete Engineering Checklist ………. k) Knowledge and understanding of TCD documentation ………. l) Knowledge and location of staff notices ………. m) Knowledge of staff sign-in and Annual Leave application procedures ………. n) Understand Callout procedures in response to RRR’s. ………. o) Understand procedures for Sick leave and URD application. ………. p) Understand implications of an impound request. ………. Introduction to Air Traffic Control 2.0 Understanding of the role of the station manager ………. 3.0 Understanding of the role of the various types of controller ………. 4.0 Understanding of the role of the coordinator ………. 5.0 Understanding of the role of the data assistant ……….

Appendix 4: Systems Monitoring and Control (SMC) Tasks

Section A

Role and responsibilities of the Systems Manager (Engineer)

Initials

· Understanding of the role and responsibilities of the Systems Manager

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

· Knowledge of the systems under the control of the Systems Manager

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

· Procedure and ability to complete log entries

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

· Procedure and ability to compile and update the Daily Status Report

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

· Procedure and ability to file MOR

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

· Procedure and ability to file a NOTAM

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

· Procedure and ability to release/restore of operational systems

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

· Procedure when LVPs are introduced

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

· Emergency procedures and the Systems Manager

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

· Ability to complete Engineering Checklist

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

k)

Knowledge and understanding of TCD documentation

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

l)Knowledge and location of staff notices

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

m)Knowledge of staff sign-in and Annual Leave application procedures FORMCHECKBOX

……….

n)Understand Callout procedures in response to RRR’s.

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

o)Understand procedures for Sick leave and URD application.

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

p)Understand implications of an impound request.

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

Introduction to Air Traffic Control

2.0 Understanding of the role of the station manager

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

3.0 Understanding of the role of the various types of controller

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

4.0 Understanding of the role of the coordinator

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

5.0 Understanding of the role of the data assistant

FORMCHECKBOX

……….

Challenges 1

• Information overload: on technical system details beyond requirements for SMCs

• Procedure overload ~several 100s!!

• Staff motivation & retention – Day to day Ops often routine– Desire to progress to projects – current structure & pay scales

strongly incentivizes moving out of SMC grade– Previous structure rotated staff from SMC/non-SMC duties in

~8mth cycles providing more variety & opportunity to develop

Challenges 2

• Situational Awareness– Ensuring staff maintain up-to-date awareness of

current system status, changes to procedures (e.g. system releases, temp instructions) etc. {planning to deploy Electronic Briefing System}

• Encouraging Continuous Improvement – Encouraging staff to highlight and work to fix process

weaknesses (encourage non-acceptance of deviations & errors)

It’s not easy!

• Increasingly complex software based systems

• More & more systems to manage

• Increasingly interdependent networked systems

• Cost / efficiency drivers versus sufficient resourcing for major outages

Critical Failures / Weather Events

• Critical faults rare & can be initially overwhelming– Unforeseen failure modes– System monitoring limitations

• ‘trap storms’ during significant events• Fault monitoring may not always reflect ATC’s system view •

• Lack of integration & filtering of critical alarms with tendency for each new system to have own proprietary management application software

• Adverse weather procedure triggers for TCD staffing

‘Behavioural skills’

• Dealing with the ‘customer’– Understanding impact on ATC Ops of releases & failures– Managing expectations– Building trust & confidence

• Prioritisation – SMC single man ops– Situational Awareness– Systematic Fault Finding

• Multi-tasking - Managing calls / fault diagnosis• Desired Behaviours

- confident & considered approach to interventions- ability to communicate with ATC & peers (fault details, handovers)

Behavioural skills

• Historically not formally captured in IAA Process• 2017/373 mandates criteria• Important to consider ‘degradation’ of performance• Proposed addition to IAA ATSEP Framework• Proposed Behavioural Skills Criteria based on

AMC/GM (scored on scale 1>5 with sufficient margin for subjectivity)(a) Cooperation within a team including flexibility (b) Attitudes towards safety and security including adherence to procedures (c) Analytical thinking (d) Ability to communicate effectively (e) Ability to prioritise tasks effectively

Future Plans & Actions 1

• Part-PERS 373/2017 compliance “project” / gap analysis- Alignment of terminology, scope & content of courses

• Case studies of major failures & occurrences (lessons learned, problem diagnosis work through)

• More regular degraded modes & contingency training

• More structure/focus on ‘shadowing’ duties before going solo

Future Plans & Actions 2

• Sharing best practices from other ANSPs

• Possibly utilise training organisations for specific training

• Periodic assessments consider past ‘on-the-job’ performance

• Enhance & build focus on ‘behavioural skills’

• Try to address information overload in training – ensure the SMC essential knowledge & tasks are focused on

Irish Aviation Authority �SMC Engineering Training and Competency�Scope Who are the IAA?IAA Eng. staffed locationsIAA Engineering StructureIAA Engineering RecruitmentSMC Scope of Activities1. SMC Engineer ResponsibilitiesTraining PhilosophySMC Training & Comp AsstPhases in SMC Training�Induction TrainingInduction ProgrammeInduction phase examSMC TrainingSMC Training ProgramSMC Training ExaminationStation Specific OJTShannon TCDIAA Competency Assessment Station ‘Shadowing Duties’OJT Checklist (sample extract)Challenges 1Challenges 2It’s not easy! Critical Failures / Weather Events ‘Behavioural skills’Behavioural skillsFuture Plans & Actions 1 Future Plans & Actions 2