Air Traffic Controllers Will Soon Ride Up Front With the Pilots They Direct

The Federal Aviation Administration is bringing back its Flight Deck Training program, which lets air traffic controllers ride in airline cockpit jumpseats and see operations from the pilots’ side. The program was paused at the start of the pandemic and has been inactive for well over six years. The FAA says it worked with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association to reinstate it, and that all major U.S. airlines have agreed to take part.

The aim is to help controllers understand pilot workload, cockpit procedures and how their instructions affect flight crews. Earlier testing showed controllers learned when to avoid complex instructions and how a change such as a runway swap adds to a crew’s workload. Flights can be on commercial, general aviation or military aircraft, and launch is expected after Thanksgiving.

There are limits. Controllers may take two flights a year, and a facility manager weighs staffing needs before approving a request. Controllers apply electronically for specific flights and name a training objective. After internal approval, the FAA sends the request to the airline, and the controller goes through vetting at the airport and aircraft, then files a report after the flight.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the program gives controllers “opportunities to build their knowledge and gain firsthand experience,” and NATCA President Nick Daniels said there is “no substitute for firsthand experience in the cockpit.” For passengers, the benefit is indirect: controllers who better understand a pilot’s workload may issue instructions that are easier to execute.

Sources: One Mile at a Time