1. No controller shall plug into any ZLA position without having met all of the criteria set out in the “General Requirements” and “Recent Experience” sections of the General Requirements SOP. Additionally, visiting and transferring controllers must have met all of the criteria set out in the Visiting/Transfer Controller Policy.
2. For any ZLA position designated as "Minor", the following restrictions apply:
Clearance Delivery / Ground / Tower
a) Any ZLA controller holding the rating of S1 who has passed the S1 rating competency check administered by ZLA mentor or instructor.
Approach Sector
a) Any ZLA controller holding the rating of S3 who has passed the S3 rating competency check administered by ZLA mentor or instructor.
NOTE: During an official ZLA event, no controller may plug in to any ZLA position designated as "Minor" unless the controller is specifically certified for the position on the ZLA Crew Roster, or temporarily authorized by the Event's Controller in Charge. The restriction comes into effect 3 hours prior to the official event's start time, and expires 3 hours past the official event's closure time.
3. For purposes of position restrictions at any ZLA position designated as "Major" or "LCTP", the following times shall be defined as “Peak Hours”:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
Tuesday, Thursday:
Saturday, Sunday:
|
1800 to 2359 Pacific Time
Ratings Relaxation Night – NO PEAK HOURS
1200 to 2359 Pacific Time |
4. During peak hours, position restrictions for any ZLA position designated as "Major" or "LCTP" shall operate as follows:
Ground/Clearance Delivery Positions
a) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Basic written exam, ZLA written Clearance Delivery exam, and received the Ground/Clearance Delivery solo sign-off.
Class D Tower Positions
a) Any ZLA controller who has received the Ground/Clearance Delivery solo sign-off, and passed the ZLA Tower written exam.
Class C Tower Positions
a) Any ZLA controller who has passed the Class C checkride or a Class B over-the-shoulder examination.
b) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Tower written exam, with mentor/instructor supervision, using _S_ (student) callsign.
Any Class B Tower Positions
a) Any ZLA controller who has passed the Los Angeles Tower over-the-shoulder examination.
b) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Tower written exam, with mentor/instructor supervision, using _S_ (student) callsign.
LAS and SAN Tower Positions
a) Any ZLA controller who has passed the over-the-shoulder examination for the Class B Tower position they intend to control.
Individual ZLA Approach Sectors
a) Any ZLA controller who has received TRACON certification at the sector at which he/she intends to control.
b) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Approach written exam, with mentor/instructor supervision, using _S_ (student) callsign.
Combined ZLA Approach Positions (e.g. Socal Approach Combined)
a) Any ZLA controller who has passed the Socal Approach Combined over-the-shoulder examination.
b) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Approach written exam, with mentor/instructor supervision, using _S_ (student) callsign.
ZLA Center Positions (including Combined Los Angeles Center)
a) Any ZLA controller who has passed the Los Angeles Center over-the-shoulder examination.
b) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Center written exam, with mentor/instructor supervision, using _S_ (student) callsign.
5. During off-peak hours, position restrictions for any ZLA position designated as "Major" or "LCTP" shall operate as follows:
Ground/Clearance Delivery Positions
a) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Basic written exam, and received the Ground/Clearance Delivery solo sign-off.
Class D Tower Positions
a) Any ZLA controller who has received the Ground/Clearance Delivery solo sign-off, and passed the ZLA Tower written exam.
Class C Tower Positions:
a) Any ZLA controller who has passed the Class C checkride or a Class B over-the-shoulder examination.
b) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Tower written exam, and received the Tower Solo sign-off, using _S_ (student) callsign.
c) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Tower written exam, with mentor/instructor supervision, using _S_ (student) callsign.
Class B Tower Positions
a) Any ZLA controller who has passed the Los Angeles Tower over-the-shoulder examination.
b) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Tower written exam and received the Tower Solo sign-off, using _S_ (student) callsign.
c) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Tower written exam, with mentor/instructor supervision, using _S_ (student) callsign.
Individual ZLA Approach Sectors
a) Any ZLA controller who has received TRACON certification at the sector at which he/she intends to control.
b) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Approach written exam, and received the Approach Solo sign-off, using _S_ (student) callsign.
c) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Approach written exam, with mentor/instructor supervision, using _S_ (student) callsign.
Combined ZLA Approach Positions (e.g. Socal Approach Combined)
a) Any ZLA controller who has passed the Socal Approach Combined over-the-shoulder examination.
b) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Approach written exam, with mentor/instructor supervision, using _S_ (student) callsign.
c) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Approach written exam and received the Combined Approach solo sign-off, using _S_ (student) callsign.
ZLA Center Positions (including combined Los Angeles Center)
a) Any ZLA controller who has passed the Los Angeles Center over-the-shoulder examination.
b) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Center written exam and received the Center Solo sign-off, using _S_ (student) callsign.
c) Any ZLA controller who has passed the ZLA Center written exam, with mentor/instructor supervision, using _S_ (student) callsign.
6. Promotion: In order to be considered for promotion, a ZLA controller must first have passed all written exams corresponding to the position sought. For Senior Student, the written exams are: ZLA Basic, ZLA Tower, ZLA Approach, and VATUSA Senior Student. For Controller: ZLA Basic, ZLA Tower, ZLA Approach, and VATUSA Controller. For Senior Controller: ZLA Basic, ZLA Tower, ZLA Approach, ZLA Center, and VATUSA Senior Controller. As well, the controller must be recommended for promotion by the ARTCC Air Traffic Manager, Training Administrator, or Staff Instructor; in the case of promotions from Student to Senior Student, any ZLA Approved Mentor may also recommend the student.
Once a student has been recommended for promotion, any ZLA Instructor may arrange for an over-the-shoulder (OTS) exam. The OTS will generally last around 60-90 minutes depending on traffic levels. For the advancement from Student to Senior Student, the OTS will be a formal examination session where the Instructor will gauge the student's abilities against a published pre-determined set of weighted criteria (Practical Test Standards) that have been determined by the Training Department to be crucial to being a successful Tower Controller.
The OTS examinations will be formal evaluations in which the instructor will scrutinize the student closely. All OTS examinations will be graded according to their respective published criteria (Practical Test Standards). OTS examinations will be scheduled when it is known to be busy, and will be advertised on the ZLA forums in advance, as well as by supervisor announcements during the exam, if possible. During OTS sessions, the student must adhere to all safety regulations. If the student incurs an Operational Error ("deal") during the session, and/or fails any critical item (line items listed in red on the PTS sheet), the examination will be terminated and the student will be required to undergo "refresher" training before being allowed another evaluation, with a minimum of one week waiting period before re-examination.
An Operational Error ("deal") shall be defined as an occurrence attributable to the individual in question, which results in any of the following:
1. Less than the applicable separation minima between two or more aircraft, or between an aircraft and terrain or obstacles, as required by FAA Order 7110.65.
2. An aircraft landing or departing on a runway closed to aircraft operations after receiving air traffic authorization.
3. Controlled occurrences where applicable separation minima, as referenced in parts 1 and 2, are maintained, but:
a. Less than the applicable separation minima existed between an aircraft and protected airspace without prior approval.
b. An aircraft penetrated airspace that was delegated to another position of operation or another facility without prior coordination and approval.
7. Class C Tower Certification: Any Student (S-1) or higher who has passed the ZLA Tower written exam may request a Class C Tower checkride. The Class C checkride will be an informal over-the-shoulder session held at a Class C airport, and will assess the student's competence in general tower procedures, including VFR and IFR departures and arrivals, as well as specific field knowledge (departure/arrival procedures in use, runway configurations, etc.). The ZLA ARTCC Air Traffic Manager, Assistant Air Traffic Manager, Training Administrator, Staff Instructors, and Approved Mentors shall be eligible to perform the Student Tower checkride. Upon passing the Student Tower checkride, the Student may work any ZLA Class C Tower position unsupervised at any time.
8. Class B Tower Certification: Any Student (S-1) or higher who has passed the ZLA Tower written exam may request a Class B Tower checkride. The Class B checkride will be a formal over-the-shoulder examination held at a Class B airport. The ZLA ARTCC Air Traffic Manager, Assistant Air Traffic Manager, Training Administrator, Staff Instructors, and Approved Mentors shall be eligible to perform the Student Tower checkride. Upon passing the Student Tower checkride, the Student may work any ZLA Class B Tower position unsupervised at any time.
9. Individual TRACON Certification: Any Senior Student (S-3) or higher who has passed the ZLA Approach written exam may request a TRACON Certification at any ZLA Approach sector, excluding the Los Angeles, Feeder, and Departure sectors of Socal TRACON, which will be covered at the Socal Approach Combined OTS. The TRACON Certification will be a formal over-the-shoulder examination that will assess the student's competence in general approach procedures (vectoring, approach clearances, handoffs and coordination, etc.), as well as specific airspace knowledge (departure/arrival procedures in use, runway configurations, airspace boundaries, etc.). The ZLA ARTCC Air Traffic Manager, Training Administrator, and Staff Instructors shall be eligible to perform TRACON Certifications, as will the Lead of the TRACON at which the Certification is held. Upon passing the TRACON Certification, the Senior Student may work this single Approach sector unsupervised at any time.
10. Socal Combined TRACON Certification: Any Senior Student (S-3) or higher who has passed the ZLA Approach written exam may request the Socal Combined TRACON Certification. The Socal Combined TRACON Certification will be a formal over-the-shoulder examination that will assess the student's competence in general approach procedures, as well as specific airspace knowledge. The ZLA ARTCC Air Traffic Manager, Training Administrator, and Staff Instructors shall be eligible to perform the Socal Combined TRACON examination. Upon passing the Socal Combined TRACON examination, the Senior Student may work any ZLA Approach sector, including Socal Combined TRACON, unsupervised at any time.
11. Los Angeles Center Certification: Any Controller (C-1) or higher who has passed the ZLA Center written exam may request the Los Angeles Center Certification. The Los Angeles Center Certification will be a formal over-the-shoulder examination that will assess the controller's competence in general center procedures, as well as specific airspace knowledge. The ZLA ARTCC Air Traffic Manager, Training Administrator, and Staff Instructors shall be eligible to perform the Los Angeles Center examination. Upon passing the Los Angeles Center examination, the Controller may work the Los Angeles Center position unsupervised at any time.
12. The ZLA ARTCC Air Traffic Manager or Training Administrator may grant temporary waivers of the foregoing restrictions, either on an individual or group basis, if special circumstances warrant.
