NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-16-018
Recommendation
TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION: Develop, in collaboration with your internal offices that investigate aviation accidents and incidents and also organizations familiar with the challenges facing pilots confronting an emergency situation, and require recurrent national training for air traffic controllers, including scenario-based training, to instruct them on identifying and responding to emergency situations to include the following: (1) recognizing emergencies, (2) determining what help is needed, and
(3) taking actions that help pilots safely resolve the situation.
Safety Issue and Context
On January 13, 2015, about 2058 eastern standard time (EST), a Cessna 152, N757ZM, crashed into shallow water at a public beach in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The commercial pilot died, and the airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces. A review of air traffic control (ATC) data indicated that the pilot had requested assistance from ATC, telling the controller that she could not continue flight under visual flight rules (VFR) and that she wanted to land; night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time.
FAA Order 7110.65, Air Traffic Control, states that air traffic controllers providing assistance to VFR pilots having difficulty flying in IMC should ask if the pilot is qualified for instrument flight rules (IFR) flight. For pilots not requesting an IFR clearance or not qualified for IFR, controllers should provide airports where visual meteorological conditions (VMC) are reported, provide other available pertinent weather information, and ask if the pilot chooses to conduct VFR flight to such an airport.
Response History
May 16, 2024 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
You previously informed us that air traffic facilities must develop a written annual refresher training plan to ensure that course materials, visual aids, and scenarios are properly developed, maintained, tailored to meet identified requirements, and to update previously taught knowledge and skills. In addition, in 2020, you published Order JO 3120.4R, “Air Traffic Technical Training,” which uses classroom discussion and high-fidelity scenario-based simulation exercises to reinforce the skills and procedures necessary to identify and respond to emergency situations.
Although we considered these actions responsive to these recommendations, we requested the standards and guidance used for administering this training and information about the training topics, such as how they are selected and when they are updated.
We note that Order JO 3120.4R outlines standards and guidance for delivering recurrent training. We also note that the training topics change every year and are derived from data collected through various FAA safety reporting systems, such as the Air Traffic Safety Action Program, and significant events. In addition, the training is delivered twice per calendar year and includes 4 hours of web-based training and 4 hours of instructor-led training.
Based on the additional information that you provided, we believe the training that you developed satisfies the intent of Safety Recommendations A-16-18 and -19, which are classified CLOSED-- ACCEPTABLE ACTION.
August 29, 2023 · Recipient Response · FAA
-From Kathryn B. Thomson, Deputy Administrator: The standards and guidance for the delivery of recurrent training are taken from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order JO 3120.4R, Air Traffic Technical Training, Chapter 4, Training Requirements for Air Traffic Control Specialists, Section 5, Proficiency Training, published on October 30, 2020.
Although not specifically mentioned in this order, the selection of topics, such as emergencies, for each round of recurrent training is derived from data collected through various FAA safety reporting systems, including the Air Traffic Safety Action Program, Risk Analysis Process, Mandatory Occurrence Reports, Electronic Occurrence Reports, Quality Assurance assessments, and significant events. This data-driven approach guarantees the recurrent training curricula remain current, mitigating evolving risks throughout the national airspace system.