Rating Upgrade
Rating Upgrade
This page is primarily designed for those controllers wanting to advance from their current rating. Please read the below steps carefully.
Follow these simple steps to upgrade to the next achievable rating.
- Step1 - Enrole
- Enrole in the applicable Moodle course. (Note there is no SNR ENR Course)
- Study the Moodle course in detail.
- You should already be registered in Moodle, if not please register now.
- Step2 - Obtain the Hours
- Obtain the required hours in your current rating - See here.
- Step3 - Email the ATC Training Director
- The ATC Training Coordinator will send you the theory assessment password.
- Include your Requested Rating, VATSIM ID, and use your VATSIM registered email address.
- Step4 - Theory Assessment
- Undergo the theory assessment carefully reading all instructions as you proceed.
- Step5 - Email Training
- Upon successful completion of the assessment email the Training Director to advise of your assessment completion.
- Be sure to copy / paste / include any of your mistakes so the assessor can help you correct them.
- Step6 - Practical Assessment
- An assessor will contact you to organise a practical assessment time.
Upon successful completion of the practical assessment you will be upgraded to the next rating.
Congratulations
Further Information
Introduction
The typical progression for a complete beginner will start at the Tower level and continue as far as the individual wishes to go - there is no compulsion to achieve a certain rating, and there are no time limits.
Training is delivered in a variety of formats. No matter which format you choose, training is self-driven and therefore entirely at your own pace.
Each rating level has a set curriculum and associated standard. These criteria form the basis of the training system, and all work completed as part of your formal training will be linked back to the relevant criteria in some way. Assessment will check for skill competency and also verify that you have a good understanding of the controller role and the airspace associated with the control position. To pass the assessment you must demonstrate that you have completed ALL of the study required and are acquainted with the relevant reference sources within VATPAC and Airservices Australia.
It is therefore very important that you read, study, and become familiar with the criteria for the rating that you seek to attain BEFORE requesting assessment.
Proper study is VITAL!
There is a lot to learn, even for a Tower rating. You should therefore develop a proper study technique, one that will help to ensure your success and reduce setbacks, disappointment and frustration.
A proper study method should include:
- Study the knowledge and skill items listed for the assessment.
- Research the resources at the links provided.
- Observe experienced Controllers in action.
- Ask questions to the VATPAC ATC Training Director
Ettiquette
All VATPAC Training Staff are volunteers who take time out of their schedule to provide free training and assessment services to fellow members. Please be mindful of this and understand that it's not always possible to service your request immediately. You can do your bit to help support the work of Training Staff by confining official training requests and enquiries to EMAIL, so that we can properly respond to you. Please also be mindful that Training Staff also like to take time to enjoy flying and controlling too. Do not seek out Training Staff online expecting them to engage in chat to resolve your particular training situation on the spot; such dialogues will not be entered into.
IMPORTANT - If you obtain information from others then ask them to point you to the reference source from where it was obtained and can be verified by you. It is NOT sufficient to just know answers. You must know where each answer comes from; especially since these often change.
External Sources of Information
Not all information is found on the VATPAC website, please refer to these external sources.