IFATCA Policy is:

The selection of ATC OJTIs should not only be made on the basis of experience but also on motivation and instructional aptitude.

A period of consolidation should follow a check-out. The previous experience of the student shall be taken into account.

Apart from being validated on the sector concerned, controllers should not be engaged in training student controllers unless they have at least two years’ operational experience and have been validated on that sector for at least six months.

When conducting ATC OJT on adjacent positions, the following items shall be considered to reduce the likelihood and consequences of communication errors:

• System quality and functionalities;
• Communication methods;
• Operational briefing and OJTI training;
• Trainees’ schedule;
• Trainee level of experience; and
• Airspace complexity.

No operational duty should be carried out after simulator duty during the same shift.

To ensure ATC OJTIs have sufficient time working on their own and are able to retain competence on each sector for which they hold validations, ATC OJTI time should be limited to no more than 50% of duty time. This can be organised on a daily, weekly, monthly or shift pattern basis, but shall limit the time gap between solo operations and take into account leave and other periods when the controller is not at work.

It shall be made clear that the ATC OJTI is responsible for maintaining the safety of air traffic on the position where OJT is provided.

In case of investigation following an incident/accident involving an ATC OJTI and a trainee the principles of Just Culture shall be applied.