Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance.
Operations may be conducted:
by day and night in variable weather conditions that will be associated with particular psychological and/or physiological limitations to performance
Performance may be demonstrated in:
simulated air traffic control situations
an operational air traffic control environment through a range of real or simulated problem-based scenarios at air traffic service operational units and/or aerodrome control towers
Acute stress is:
stress suffered in the short term
Chronic stress is:
stress suffered over a long period of time. Chronic stress must be treated clinically or it might lead to medical conditions that render a person incapable of performing ATS duties
Air traffic control operations may be conducted:
in both normal and emergency/abnormal situations leading to some stress related behaviours
Air traffic control workplace may be a workstation in:
Area Control
Approach Control
Aerodrome Control
Deterioration of physiological condition may result from such causes as:
physical illness
injury
disease
fatigue
poor posture
lack of rest
substance abuse (e.g. drugs and alcohol)
other potential physiological hazards of prolonged sedentary activity
Deterioration of psychological condition may result from such causes as:
mental illness
grief
trauma
interpersonal conflict
overwork
anxiety
uncontrolled stress
psychological effects of substance abuse (e.g. drugs and alcohol)
secondary effects of illness, disease or injury
Causes of stress may include:
emergency situations
poor planning and prioritisation of tasks
interpersonal conflict
fear and anxiety
insufficient knowledge to adequately manage tasks and contingencies
inability to carry out simultaneous multiple tasks
time pressures
weather conditions
unfamiliar situations
illness
Errors are made:
either unintentionally or intentionally and need to be managed
Intentional errors are termed:
violations, and are underpinned by cultural and attitudinal factors. The remedial strategies to address intentional error are different to those addressing unintentional error. Intentional error or violation can be treated by addressing motivation, shifting culture and beliefs and/or reviewing the construction of written procedures to improve understanding and application such that workaround tactics are not necessary
Unintentional error is treated by:
training to improve competence through increased knowledge and practice, recency, improved communication and decision-making ability
Threat and error management categorises error into:
intentional non-compliance (violations)
procedural error (operational deviation)
communication error (miscommunications or lack thereof)
proficiency-based error (lack of recency or currency)
operational decision error (flawed decision-making processes)
Intentional non-compliances involve:
a wilful deviation from regulation and/or operator procedures and might include using non-standard phrases (when standard phrases are available) or conducting checklists from memory
Procedural errors are:
unintentional operating deviations from regulations and/or operator procedures in which the intention is correct but the execution is flawed
Communication errors include:
miscommunications, incorrect interpretations, or failure to communicate pertinent information. Typically in ATS this might involve failure to read back and hear back correct instructions
Proficiency errors involve:
a deficiency of knowledge or skills in the application of ATS duties. This might involve insufficient knowledge of ATS systems and equipment to produce a safe and efficient air traffic service
Operational decision errors result from:
a non-standard decision making process and might include ignoring a more conservative option for a risky decision, taking a decision and not communicating this, or not effectively using the available time to make a decision. Decisions made in teams might be affected by group think
Teamwork in an air traffic control environment includes:
coordinating operational information with the wider air traffic services community. The concept of a team should be extended beyond the immediate working team to include adjacent sectors and pilots within the jurisdiction airspace. This wider concept of teamwork will improve synergies and increase effectiveness and efficiencies. The immediate working team should exhibit shared situation awareness. For example, the Terminal Control Area (TMA) team will know the runway mode/Automatic Terminal Information Service regardless of the endorsed position worked
Aeronautical decision making (ADM) enhances:
the basic concept of the conventional decision-making process by providing a structured and systematic approach to analysing changes. This includes an awareness of the importance of attitudes in the decision-making process; the need to assess alternatives; the ability to seek and consider all relevant information; the motivation to consider alternatives and to action the least commercially desirable but safest strategy. Furthermore, the time constraints that often characterise the nature of safety critical decisions also form an integral part of the ADM process
Operators have a duty of care to:
take reasonable care to give all instructions and advice as is necessary to promote the safety of aircraft within the ATC area of responsibility. In practical terms this includes the obligation to comply with the operational responsibilities contained in operator s manuals and any other relevant instructions. The duty of care also includes an obligation to: (a) provide information that is accurate and not misleading, (b) warn of known hazards and (c) warn of potential hazards
Situational leadership is:
is the skill needed to influence other members of the team and external people by using local knowledge and conditions. Situational leadership might exist in a position offered by the organisation. Furthermore, this type of leadership might exist only within certain situations that require a particular skill or knowledge as in a particular type of emergency
Followership is important in the evaluation of team performance, the efficient use of team resources and improving team outputs, and is exhibited by:
being non-reactive
offering information
making particular suggestions
offering constructive criticism
solving confrontation and conflict
Team behaviours will involve and should manifest as:
interaction between members with high levels of communication
cohesion and team spirit resulting in high morale
high productivity
high levels of energy
common and purpose-centred team activity
shared responsibility and rewards within the team
regular monitoring of team s performance by all members
Dependent on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, workplace procedures may include:
company procedures
enterprise procedures
organisational procedures
established procedures
regulatory standards and recommended practices
Information/documents may include:
training curricula and syllabi
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations and Manuals of Standards (MOS)
Local Instructions (LI) and Temporary Local Instructions (TLI)
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 (Cth) 1995
OH&S Legislation (state and federal)
Civil Aviation Act (Cth) 1988 and the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 1995

EVIDENCE GUIDE
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required knowledge and skills, the range statement and the assessment guidelines for this 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
Resources for assessment include:
a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or 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 equipment, and
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 activities in an appropriately simulated environment at the registered training organisation, and/or
in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace