The Air Traffic Organization (ATO) promotes the safe development and operation of our National Airspace System (NAS). Within ATO, the Technical Operations (Tech Ops) Service Area is responsible for installing and maintaining critical navigational equipment, such as instrument landing systems (ILS), radar, and weather monitoring stations, working on highly technical and complex systems. In many cases, certification training is costly, requiring significant development and travel expenses; untimely, received months or years before implementation of a new system; and lengthy, often taking weeks or months at a time. The organization sought a proof of concept to show how it could reduce training time and costs, while improving quality. With many personnel soon slated for retirement, the organization also needed a solution that appealed to both the seasoned and newer generations of Tech Ops employees.
The client selected a three-week in-residence certification course for redevelopment as a proof of concept. The in-residence course prepared technicians for on-the-job training on a newly implemented weather monitoring information system. After conducting several analyses, we designed and developed a training course that prepared employees for OJT after only three days of instruction. The course was offered on cross-platform devices and could be offered on-demand, on or offline. Using video demonstrations and interactive simulation exercises, course participants were able to observe and practice performing critical job tasks. The new training was also designed to help participants become familiar with job resources and intended for use as a job aid.
If implemented on a wide scale, the course would meet the agency’s needs by significantly reducing training travel costs and total training time, while also offering flexible and timely delivery options. Through the use of rich video assets, we were also able to improve the quality and fidelity of the demonstration of preventative and corrective maintenance tasks.
