Entry Point North - Air Traffic Services and Air Traffic Control Training

Entry Point North is an award winning certified air traffic management academy. It was one of the first ATM academies to be accredited under the European Commission's directives towards the vision of the Single European Sky by 2020. Entry Point North is owned by the three air navigation service providers in Scandinavia: Avinor, LFV and Naviair. Together they employ more than 1,500 air traffic controllers and handle traffic in almost 100 airports throughout Scandinavia.

Entry Point North is a total training solution provider, one of the largest ATM training academies in Europe operating in a multi-cultural environment. Every year more than 300 aspiring and operational ATCOs from various countries are trained at the academy's modern facilities in Malmoe, Sweden. Specialised courses within human factors and safety areas are also offered to a diverse range of ATM personnel. In addition, the academy provides a broad range of related ATM training and consultancy services. Entry Point North customers are both regional and international, public and private ANSPs, airports, airlines as well as military clients.

Training courses and services

Entry Point North is a total training solution provider offering a wide range of ATM training courses and services compliant with EUROCONTROL CCC, international standards and best practice. Entry Point North helps customers with the selection and recruitment of the future air traffic controllers and training for the appropriate rating depending on the specific requirements of the customer. The academy offers specialised programs within ATS and aerodrome flight information service training, air traffic safety electronics personnel (ATSEP) training courses as well as human factors and safety courses such as controller aviation training (CAT), on-the-job training instructor (OJTI), OJTI refresher, assessor and crew recourse management (CRM). The air traffic controller training courses available at Entry Point North include:

• Basic ATC
• APS rating course + RAD endorsement
• TCL endorsement
• ADI rating course + TWR + RAD endorsement
• ACS rating course + RAD endorsement
• ACP rating
• APP rating

The ATSEP training courses available at Entry Point North include:

• ATSEP basic
• ATSEP qualification

The air traffic services training available at Entry Point North include:

• Basic ATS
• AFIS rating course + RAD endorsement
• AFIS refresher

Development training courses available at Entry Point North include:

• OJTI
• OJTI refresher
• Assessor
• CRM / TRM course
• Controller aviation training
• Presentation technique
• Interview technique
• Interview technique refresher
• Train the trainer
• Rough guide to ATC

Other services include:

• Selection
• Recruitment
• Airport / airspace / excercise design
• Simulator rental
• Training facility rental
• On-site training
• Mobile on-site simulator
• CBT development
• English proficiency test
• Consultancy

In addition Entry Point North also offers refresher training, conversion and local training performed on local or generic airspace.

Initial training for air traffic control officers (ATCOs)

Initial training for ATCOs is intensive. It begins with an EU-certified basic ATC training module, in which applicants learn ATC theory and methods of application. This is then followed by rating training (specialist training within individual ATC disciplines).

The training comprises classroom theory, computer-based training (CBT) and hands-on simulation training and all training is in compliance with Eurocontrol's common core content. The simulation training is designed to teach participants about the real-life working environment within each individual discipline of ATC.

Basic ATS training for air navigation service employees

ATS employs many competent and diverse personnel that serve the air traffic control industry. EPN provides premier training to provide a basic education for these groups.

The course includes training in subjects such as MET, international organisations, ANS organisations, flight plans, rules of the air, ASM, ATFCM, aircraft knowledge, equipment, navigation and human factors.

The basic ATS course addresses AFTN operators, AIS officers, ATCO assistants and flight data operators.

ATS training rating

EPN provides rating courses for ATS personnel that have completed the basic ATS course. The four current rating courses available are:

• Aerodrome flight information (AFIS) without radar
• AFIS with radar
• Flight information service without radar (FFP)
• Flight information service with radar (FFS)

ATM personnel human-factor and safety courses

EPN develops and offers intensive human-factor and safety courses for the entire range of ATM personnel. The training can be adapted to match the particular needs of customers. These courses develop the individual's non-technical skills, such as decision making and interpersonal communication.

Besides a thorough human factors education, the lecturers at EPN have an operational background as air traffic controllers, commercial pilots or experience from another organisation where safety is critical so they really know what they are talking about.

EPN can also offer tailor-made courses in the field of human factors to satisfy a customer's specific needs.

Selection and recruitment services for ANSPs and the ATM sector

Entry Point North can offer you the services of selection and recruitment experts who are behavioral scientists that specialise in the aviation industry.

Each year, EPN sifts through applicants to find a select few for its initial training programs for aspiring air traffic controllers.

EPN offers various selection tools, including FEAST and has an in-depth experience in identifying and selecting the most trainable candidates.

Training facilities

The academy occupies more than 6,700m² of specially equipped training space at Malmoe Airport. Next to the Entry Point North building is the control tower for Malmoe Airport as well as the air traffic control centre for the southern part of Sweden. Entry Point North's modern facilities contain: simulator rooms, offices, two kitchens, conference rooms, nine classrooms and common space.

Simulators

Entry Point North uses state-of-the-art BEST simulators from MicroNav that can be used with or without strips. There are 180 radar / pilot positions and up to 13 3D towers, each with two or four controller positions, three pilots and one approach position connected. The tower simulators are divided into eleven 180° and two full 360°. The controller positions are flexible and can quickly be grouped or ungrouped, to run exercises in standalone, suites (executive and planner), groups (e.g. the different APP positions) or full control centre configuration all depending on the training requirement. All positions are connected to the same network, which gives high flexibility in the use of the simulator facilities and to perform combined courses i.e. from area to ADI.

Entry Point North also offers a mobile on-site simulator (MOS) solution: MOS-box and MOS-trailer. This means the simulation aspect of training can be delivered at almost any location and premises subject to the wishes of the customer.

A wide range of EUROCONTROL provided CBT programs are available for use during the different courses. These are accessed by each student directly from the EUROCONTROL e-learning web page.

Training staff and philosophy

At Entry Point North its staff are its key resource. More than 70 employees and consultants come from over ten countries and work in a multi-cultural environment showing cultural sensitivity and respect. All training courses and material are delivered in English.

The highly professional instructor team offers close, continuous supervision of students, plus individual coaching and support. The academy provides structured progress reporting and continuous assessment of each individual student. The advanced training philosophy has proven successful and more than 90% of the enrolled ab-initio students qualify for a student license after completion of the training.

Tailor-made solutions

Entry Point North is a customer focused organisation and any of the local requirements can be developed and added into the content of the training. Customers can continuously be involved in the training - from designing required course content and training methodology to providing their own instructors to give a local flavour and input to the training.

Entry Point North offers a high level of flexibility and mobility - training and services can be delivered almost everywhere. Simulation training can also be provided using any local airspace or local airport layout as desired by the customer.