HVACC

Air traffic controllers have different ranks, which reflect their experience and their ability (and clearance) to open different service positions. The ranks are shown below. Please note that in order to upgrade your rating further you will have to undergo new testing, both in theory and practice according to what is noted in the above section (but not further training).

Student Level (STU): This is the first ATC rank that one can receive. Upon receiving this rank you may man up to the Tower (TWR) position. Candidates for this position must meet the following criteria:

-Give a correct IFR clearance to an aircraft with a valid flight plan
-Must know how to use VRC and its functions such as:

-Use of the keys F1 – F12.
-How to read and activate a METAR of an airport
-How to use the frequencies (COM1 & COM2)
-How to set up your ATIS
-How to use the chat functions
-How to handover and autoaccept and aircraft with another controller
-How to use text and voice with pilots at the same time
-Know the aviation phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, ....)

Senior Student Level (STU+): Is the second ATC rank that one can receive. Upon receiving this rank you may man up to the Approach (APP/DEP) position. Candidates for this position must meet the following criteria:
is the second ATC rank that one can receive. Upon receiving this rank you may man up to the Approach (APP/DEP) position. Candidates for this position must meet the following criteria:

- Demonstrate the STU requirements faster and more efficiently.
-Vector an aircraft to its final approach without giving a final vector of more the 30 degrees from the final approach course.

-How to receive weather reports from different airports
-Know most of the Greek and main international airport ICAO codes
-In depth knowledge of SID/STAR procedures
-Basic radar controlling (headings, speed control, vectors, radials)
-Basic aircraft performance
-Difference between altitude and flightlevel
-Difference between the clearances and approvals
-Basic knowledge of emergency procedures

Controller Level (CTR): This is the third controller rank . Upon receiving this rank you may man up to the Center (CTR) position.Required skills include:

- ATC skills in IFR clearances.
- Correct approval phraseology (as per ICAO) for starting engines, taxiing, taking off, approach and landing, use of ATIS.
- Initial contact during approach: Contact report, ATIS, runway in use, intentions (radar vectoring, SID, STAR).
- Difference between VFR and IFR.
- Basic knowledge of the ATC system and which controller does what.
- Basic skill in understanding a METAR and translating it into plain terms.
- Difference between QNH and standard barometric pressure, transition layer, altitude, flight level.
- Types of radio beacons, limitations, airways, fixes.
- Standard ILS, VOR and NDB approaches (differences in minima, effect on correct aircraft separation).
- Holding procedures.
- Go around procedures.
- Basic skills in air traffic controlling (without radar - only voice readbacks).
- Knowledge of basic SquawkBox functions (NDB tuning, manual weather etc.).
- Skill in connecting as LGGG_CTR and managing en route traffic.
- Giving departure clearance to pilots who will state "will report airborne" (without any other ground procedures).
- Managing approaching flights that will report "own navigation to final approach".
- Giving weather information along with take off/landing clearances.
- Managing multiple vectorings in the Athens TMA (LGAV), while at the same time providing services to multiple stations in other parts of the Greek FIR.
- Being able to communicate clearly and efficiently via voice.
- Being able to manage "text" traffic quickly and efficiently (ALIAS).
- Having all SID and STAR charts for all Greek Airports at the tip of your fingers (all charts can be found at the HvACC webpage).

Senior Controller Level (CTR+): This is the fourth controller rank. Upon achieving this rank and after confirmation from VATEUD TD you will be rated for positions up to and including Eurocontrol (FSS). The required skills for this level are as follows:

- Minimum safe altitudes in the area you are controlling: Obstacle clearance, MORA, MOCA, minimum radar altitude.
- How to translate ATC relevant information contained in SASFSS or Jeppesen manuals.
- How to read and utilize SASFSS or Jeppesen ASIR/IAL, as well as en route charts.
- Good ATC skills, use of all aforementioned skills to the highest degree.
- Emergency management (consequences).
- Loss of communication procedures, emergency transponder settings.
- Procedural, Non radar procedures (transponder failure or radar failure).
- Selecting and assigning runways for departure/arrival (criteria).
- Knowledge of the whole ATC system and which controller position does what.
- Ability to connect as LGGG_CTR and manage simultaneously:
one radar vectored flight at any Greek airport.
two arrivals with pilots on the same nav path.
- Knowledge of procedures for basic Greek airports and ability to handle them all at the same time.
- Airplane limitations (wind, runway length, speeds).
- Knowledge of the ICAO coding system.
- Height, altitude, elevation.
- Effects of high/low QNH.
- Aircraft separation on the ground and in the air (during take off, landing and en route flight).
- Operational minima and instrument requirements for CAT I & II procedures.
- IAS, TAS, GS, drift.
- ETA, EAT, CTOT.
- How to monitor a flight's airspeed and altitude and how to compare them against given clearances and pilot intentions.
- Holding: Entry, times, speeds.
- Lower & Upper Airspace system including even/odd levels and correct separation.
- What VFR and Special VFR is.
- How to manage a VFR flight plan.
- How to manage a flight in emergency and all the other CTR traffic at the same time.
- The most popular Greek airports with elevation of over 100 ft (rounded to the closest hundred feet) and the most common obstacles connected with radar approaches in their area.
- Runways of basic Greek airports as well as approach and departure procedures.
- Knowledge of instrument approaches and which ones are available at Greek airports (ILS / VOR/ NDB).
- Knowledge of the frequencies of basic Greek navaids and airport frequencies.