Is refresher training of air traffic controllers adequate to meet the challenges of emergencies and abnormal situations ?

The fundamental assumption behind the refresher training of air traffic controllers is to impart them with the required skills and knowledge to meet successfully the wide range of challenges imposed by emergencies and abnormal situations. The purpose of this study was to test this assumption. Research in emergencies and abnormal situations training in the Air Traffic Control, (ATC) system is limited as normal operations and error taxonomies attract the majority of the efforts. An observational field study was conducted using Cognitive Systems Engineering (CSE) research principles. A prototype set of individual and team-level cognitive strategies was used to investigate dyadic teams of operational controllers during real and simulated emergencies and abnormal situations in a major European Area Control Centre. A significant reduction of performance was observed during the management of certain categories of abnormal situations were the escalation pattern called for rapid interventions from the Executive Controller position. Cases with less stepper escalation patterns were handled successfully. The refreshertraining curriculum was technically oriented and focused in those categories where better performance was displayed and rapidity of interventions was not an issue. Results indicate a considerable gap between formal training requirements and unattained operational demands that may lead to safety implications. An advanced safety-training course focusing on cultivating coordination, resilience and affordances skills that appeared to be lagging might bridge the gap.