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VATCAR TRAINING AND PROMOTIONS

Text Box: Promotions VATCAR considers promotions as a mean of identifying those who have the most experience and ability at performing ATC. Why bother? You can still control at the Student level.
We allow anyone at any rating to do ATC in any position in the Caribbean, but the FIR chiefs have the right to position their most proficient controllers in the toughest spots during fly in events to make sure the events are carried out efficiently. If you would like to take on the challenge of manning an approach or even a center position during a fly-in, you need to make sure you are proficient in order to do a good job for us. VATCAR allows controllers with a rating of Senior Student and above to perform ATC using voice, therefore if you want to use Roger Wilco when doing ATC, you need to show your voice proficiency when testing for senior student. What should I do to get promoted? Read the study guides. It takes a little time, but you'll enjoy yourself much more when you've learned the material and you're more confident that you're doing it the right way. Practice what you've learned. Ideally, spend some time in your FIR or your ARTCC with your chief or an instructor. Time and experience are the biggest teachers. Ask your ARTCC or FIR Chief to promote you. Your Region Training Department, or his instructor can give you written, open book tests to promote you to Senior Student. These steps will get you on the way to becoming "certified". Ask your ARTCC Chief to recommend you to your ARTCC assigned instructor. For Senior Student thru Senior Controller, Region Training Department, or his instructor will give you some additional written tests, and then evaluated while you are controlling traffic for a short period. Based on your evaluations, unless you've really been goofing off, you'll reach the next level. After reaching Senior Controller level, you might want to try your hand at becoming an instructor. It's up to you.
assigned instructors are listed on the VATCAR Staff Page. Promotions are based on ability. You cannot skip levels, or get an express pass based on who you know. Promotions are based strictly on your ability, attitude, and commitment. Promotions can take some time. Generally, the entire process for promotion takes about four weeks, start to finish. Schedules need to be coordinated, credentials and experience checked, tests graded, and ratings files changed. It is not an instantaneous process. You are welcome to check on the status at any time by contacting the training director.

You must have a recommendation. This, in the vast majority of cases, must come from the center chief. If you are concerned about receiving a recommendation, please evaluate the "why" of that question before contacting the training department for an appeal. It is the general procedure of this department to support the chiefs' decision regarding recommendations.

Real-world controllers receive an automatic Controller rating. Once adequate documentation is received to substantiate that someone is an active or retired civilian or military controller, a promotion will be issued to Controller as a courtesy. Real-world pilots must jump through the hoops like everyone else, but have the benefit of their training to quickly and easily pass the tests with a little preparation. Review of the VATCAR Promotion Process
To be successfully promoted, the following items must be completed:

1. You must have been in your current rating for at least 30 days (each level) for a promotion to Senior Student, and 60 days (each level) for promotions to Controller to Senior Controller.
2. Promotions in the student levels are handled by your FIR Chief. Promotions in the controller levels are handled by the VATCAR Instructor Staff.
3. You must successfully pass a multiple-choice exam with a minimum score of 80% based on the level that you are attempting to qualify for. Student and Controller tests are open book.
4. You must successfully pass an over-the-shoulder evaluation administered by the FIR Chief or Instructor. Testing for controller rating and above will be performed by the VATCAR Instructor staff.

5. There will be a 30 day waiting period for re-testing, or makeup tests.

Promotional Standards for students by VATCAR Training Department. All students will be evaluated and promoted through the level of Senior Student by the FIR Chief and/or Instructor . You are by no means restrict to controlling within your assigned ARTCC, however, for evaluation purposes and promotional advancement, all students should contact their ARTCC Chief, or FIR Chief, for the purpose of setting up periodic testing, whether written, oral, or the monitoring of performance on PC.

Standards for student advancement are as follows: Observer - is received at the time you received you CID certification number by VATSIM Student will be evaluated and promoted to the level of Student 1 by your FIR Chief and/or Instructor. Student - Student will be evaluated and promoted through the level of Senior Student by your FIR Chief and/or Instructor. Senior Student / Voice Certification - Guidelines for advancement to Senior Student required that you have download the study packets and reference materials on the training page, and have made yourself familiar with the materials. You must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skill necessary to control at the Tower level and below, and show proficiency in using voice. A written exam will consist of an "open book" test with questions derived from a test pool. After receiving a passing score of 80% or higher, a practical "over-the-shoulder" test will be given in one or more online sessions within your ARTCC, according to the student's preference. Additional practical testing is conducted at the ARTCC Chief's discretion. You must be at the Senior Student level or above to use voice. We request that you listen to the Voice Lesson on VATUSA’s Real Audio page, which will deal with many of the testing questions. Practical tests for senior student must be performed using voice if the student would like to use voice. If the student chooses not to use voice, then he would need to be tested again on voice in order to be permitted to use voice. Controller - Approach - Guidelines for advancement to Controller required that you have download the study packets and reference materials on the training page, and have made yourself familiar with the materials. You must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skill necessary to control at the Approach level and below. A written exam will consist of an "open book" test with questions derived from a test pool. After receiving a passing score of 80% or higher, a practical "over-the-shoulder" test will be given in one or more PC sessions within your ARTCC, or at the candidates ARTCC according to the student's preference. Additional practical testing is conducted at the ARTCC Chief's discretion. Senior Controller - Center - Guidelines for advancement to Controller required that you have download the study packets and reference materials on the training page, and have made yourself familiar with the materials. We request that you listen to the Real Audio classes. You must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skill necessary to control at the Center level and below. A written exam will consist of an "open book" test with questions derived from a test pool. After receiving a passing score of 80% or higher, a practical "over-the-shoulder" test will be given in one or more PC sessions within your ARTCC, or at the candidates ARTCC according to the student's preference. Additional practical testing is conducted at the ARTCC Chief's discretion.

Training Materials

Santo Domingo FIR