Air Traffic Controller Credentialing Required by October

August 11 – Air traffic controllers must hold an Air Traffic Safety Oversight-issued credential with rating(s) for their facility to perform direct safety related air traffic control services, beginning Oct. 1.

“One reason the FAA maintains one of the safest aviation system in the world is the current training, certification and qualification programs provided to its employees,” said Velvet Kennedy, manager of the Certification Standards Branch in Air Traffic Safety Oversight, or AOV.

“It is our mission as an agency to ensure our employees providing direct safety related services through air traffic control and system reliability are equipped with the necessary tools and training to support the system. AOV credentials identify holders as having achieved a level of performance in a high consequence profession,” said Kennedy.

AOV's credentialing program is designed to bring consistency to the way controllers and technicians are trained and certified and to recognize the technical achievements of ATO safety personnel.

About 25,000 controllers and technicians are affected by the credentialing program.

In March 2005 the FAA issued FAA Order 1100.161 establishing AOV in Aviation Safety to provide independent oversight of the Air Traffic Organization. The order required the development of “a program for issuing, amending and removing credentials of ATO safety personnel to ensure their currency and continued competency to perform safety functions.”

In August 2006, Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Nicholas Sabatini issued FAA Order 8000.90, AOV Credentialing and Control Tower Operator Certification Programs, outlining the requirements for AOV-issued credentials for all personnel performing direct safety-related air traffic control services and/or certification on certifiable systems/subsystems/equipment or services in support of the national airspace system.

The order contains two separate programs, the Control Tower Operator Certification Program and the AOV Credentialing Program. It established how AOV credentials are issued, maintained and removed, along with separate sections specifying uniform procedures for the certification, rating and issuance of control tower operator airmen certificates.

The credentialing programs have been implemented in phases. Management credentials were issued beginning in January 2007.

Airway Transportation System Specialist credentials were issued in late spring and summer 2007 with the program fully implemented Aug. 1, 2007.

“The United States is the only country that credentials airway transportation system specialists with certification authority,” said Kennedy. “We lead the international community in recognizing our technicians as a vital part of providing one of the safest air traffic systems in the world.”

Air traffic controllers received credentials beginning in March 2008 after a memorandum of understanding was signed by ATO and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

Credentials for Air Traffic Control Specialists are facility-specific, based upon the functions of the facility. Credentials are also based upon the certification authority the controller holds. Each employee is assigned a credential number when they receive their first rating, which will transfer with them and record all ratings achieved during their FAA career. A secure credentialing database system stores all the credentialing records. New ratings must be earned to provide air traffic control services at each facility.

Air traffic managers are designated by AOV as Proficiency Managers to perform specific functions in support of credentialing and the Control Tower Operator Certificate Program. On July 15, 2008 every Proficiency Manager registered with AOV received notification to ensure facility records were current and that credentials for examiners and eligible controllers were entered into the credentialing database. On July 18, training for the 2,125 examiners registered by their Proficiency Manager was initiated.

Proficiency Manager training for En Route and Terminal managers began Aug. 11. Using your FAA e-mail address and secure password, the required training can be found on the Credentialing and CTO Programs Web site. This training is not available on eLMS.

The credential rating must be renewed every two years. Air Traffic Controllers become eligible for their initial issuance of a credential rating in conjunction with their first position certification, excluding Flight Data/Clearance Delivery. Unlike the initial implementation process for credentials, air traffic controllers' renewal will require holders to take a biennial skills evaluation. After the first year, renewal of the initial credential rating(s) will be staggered based on the holder's birth month.

The Credentialing Office and CTO staff can be reached on 202-267-5205. ATO points of contact for credentialing/CTO questions are: Thomas Carbone, ATO Terminal at 202-385-6192; and Lisa Shepard, ATO En Route and Oceanic at 202-493-5577.