1. ELP ICAO WORKSHOP ST PETERSBOURG - May 2011.
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ICAO REGIONAL WORKSHOP Saint-Petersbourg , Russian Federation 23rd /26th May 2011
English training in the life of an ATCO in France
Olivier DELVALLEE
may 2011
ELP ICAO WORKSHOP ST PETERSBOURG - May 2011.
Ministère de l'Écologie, de l'Énergie,
du Développement durable et de l'Aménagement du territoire

2. SUMMARY 1. RECRUITMENT 2. INITIAL TRAINING 3. COMMUNITY & CENTRES
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SUMMARY
1. RECRUITMENT
2. INITIAL TRAINING
3. COMMUNITY & CENTRES
4. CONTINUOUS TRAINING
5. CONCLUSION
ELP ICAO WORKSHOP ST PETERSBOURG - May 2011.
may 2011

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To become an ATCO
1. RECRUITMENT
A competition with an exam 2 years after high school graduate
Many applicants ( often about )
During the last years : 5 or 6 student classes a year
Nowadays : only 2 classes of 32 students a year
FINDING : DUE TO THE LEVEL OF RECRUITMENT, WE CAN SAY THAT
LEVEL OF ENGLISH AT THE ENTRANCE IN THE ACADEMY IS GOOD
ELP ICAO WORKSHOP ST PETERSBOURG - May 2011.
may 2011

4. 2. INITIAL TRAINING DURATION 3 YEARS DIVIDED IN 5 MODULES :
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2. INITIAL TRAINING
DURATION 3 YEARS DIVIDED IN 5 MODULES :
M1 : in the academy to achieve the ratings ADI & ADV
3 weeks in immersion course abroad to perfect english language
and of this module students have to demonstrate Level 4 ICAO
M2 : 4 weeks for piloting training
4 weeks to start working as a tower controller on a mid-size airfield
M3 : in the academy to achieve the ratings APP/APS/ACP/ACS
M4 : duration 56 weeks - the trainee starts to work in a control centre
( ACC or big APP ) to obtain the qualification of the centre.
English training during this part :
- 3 weeks in immersion course in UK
hours ( group classes work / tutorials ).
M5 : come back at the academy for the thesis and to try to demonstrate
level 5
COMMENT : WE HAVE NOTICED ON STATISTICS THAT ABOUT 50% OF THE STUDENTS REACH A LEVEL 5 AT THE EVALUATION AT THE END OF THE M1.
ELP ICAO WORKSHOP ST PETERSBOURG - May 2011.
may 2011

5. 3. COMMUNITY & ORGANISATION
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3. COMMUNITY & ORGANISATION
About 4500 ATCOs on :
5 ACC
41 Airports
50 Airfields
To provide English training :
A net of English language coordinators responsible for setting up
the English training programmes and managing for each of them
a team of local teachers.
COMMENT : At each air navigation service or air control centre in France, an English language coordinator is responsible for setting up the English language training programmes for qualified controlers, harmonising these programmes on a local and national level as well as coordinating the English training courses for trainee controllers with ENAC; Each coordinator manages a team of teachers locally and the training might include group classes work, tutorials and immersion courses abroad.
ELP ICAO WORKSHOP ST PETERSBOURG - May 2011.
may 2011

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4. CONTINUOUS TRAINING
Based on an individual English language training programme called PIFA in French.
Interview between the controller and the English teacher to enable a training programme according the level of the ATCO
Depending on this level :
LEVEL 4 minimum 75 hours to do over 3 years
LEVEL 5 minimum 100 hours to do over 6 years
Comment : the initial aim of individual training programmmes was to bring all controllers up to an ICAO level 4. However, since 2008 the objective has changed slightly and is now one of maintaining this level or of attaining a level 5.
An individual interview enables a training programme to be defined for each controller. This programme is presented to the controller in the form of a document.The first page of the document corresponds to an appreciation of the controller’s linguistic skills and sets out the specific points, grammatical or other that have to be worked on. The second page details the number of hours and types of courses to be followed over a specific time period.
Depending on the controller’s level, a level 4 or a level 5, the controller will have respectively a minimum of 75 hours to do aver 3 years or 100 hours to do aver 6 years, following the ICAO recommandation ( annex1 – ) that pilots ans controllers demonstrating a level 4 should be evaluated at least once every three years and those with a level 5, onec every 6 years.
Controllers with a level 6, if they wish, are also provided with a training programme over 6 years even though they are exempt from resitting the licensing test.
AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT THE ENGLISH COORDINATOR SIGNS
THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE PROGRAMME SO THAT THE ATCO CAN
BRING THE EVIDENCE TO THE NSA TO EXTEND THE VALIDITY OF HIS LICENSE
ELP ICAO WORKSHOP ST PETERSBOURG - May 2011.
may 2011

7. « LEVEL 5 FOR ALL THE ATCO » IN FRANCE
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5. CONCLUSION
THE EMPHASIS OF THIS CONTINUOUS TRAINING IS PUT ON THE
COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH TO LANGUAGE LEARNING WITH
THE OBJECTIVE BEING IMPROVE SPEAKING, LISTENING AND INTERACTIVE SKILLS.
THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE AVIATION ENGLISH TRAINING IS THE DOMAIN
OF PLAIN LANGUAGE IN OPERATIONAL CONTEXT WHICH IS DEFINED
IN THE ICAO GUIDELINES FOR TRAINING AS BEING SITUATED
« Between the very narrow focus of standardised phraseology and the very wide
focus of conversational aviation topics »
COMMENT : The initial aim of individual
TARGET FOR OUR DIRECTOR IN THE DOMAIN « ENGLISH PROFICIENCY » :
« LEVEL 5 FOR ALL THE ATCO » IN FRANCE  
ELP ICAO WORKSHOP ST PETERSBOURG - May 2011.
may 2011

8. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
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THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
ANY QUESTIONS ?
                                                                                                                             
ELP ICAO WORKSHOP ST PETERSBOURG - May 2011.
may 2011