Syllabus and Lesson Plans

Version 1.0
Effective Date: 1st November 2025

Scope

This document details the training syllabus for VATSIM UK Student 2 controller training (S1->S2)

Section 1 | Introduction

The syllabus details the competencies and content covered by the S2 training course in VATSIM UK. Students will meet the learning objectives through independent study of material provided in eLearning courses and traditional documentation, supported by mentors and instructors in one-to-one and group teaching sessions. Students are encouraged to ask questions in #twr-students on Discord

Section 2 | Theoretical Knowledge course

The S2 | Aerodrome Control e-Learning course covers the theoretical content of the S2 course, which includes the following areas of knowledge:

2.1 Introduction to Aerodrome Control

• Responsibilities of ADC
• Flight rules
• Chart reading
• Airspace structure and classifications
• Coordination

2.2 Aerodrome Control Phraseology

• Introduction to Aerodrome Control Phraseology
• Runway line-up and crossing clearances
• Takeoff clearances
• Landing clearances
• Go-arounds and missed approaches

2.3 Meteorology

• Meteorological reporting
• Altimetry
• Low Visibility Procedures (LVPs)
• Hazardous weather phenomena

2.4 Separation

• Introduction to separation standards
• Wake turbulence separation
• Route separation
• Speed separation
• Separation summary

2.5 VFR traffic

• Introduction to VFR
• Circuits
• Departures
• Arrivals
• Transits
• VFR-IFR Integration

2.6 Aerodrome Operations

• The Runway
• Flow Management
• Aerodrome Traffic Monitor (ATM)
• Instrument and visual approaches
• Rules of the air
• Emergencies

Section 3 | Block Training

S2 Training now encompasses a block training system to homogenise the Tower training process and ensure that all competencies are covered to a sufficient standard.

Students will complete all blocks before being forwarded for a practical exam unless an exception is required (e.g. fast tracks). The system is split into two blocks:

• Block 1 - Basic Training
• Block 2 - Consolidation and Network Practice.

Each block allows for students to practise and develop the skills needed to control Tower positions in the UK. Training will conclude with a practical exam in which students will be assessed against the competencies as set out in the VATSIM.net Global Controller Administration Policy (GCAP). Upon a successful completion of the practical examination, they will be rewarded with an S2 rating.

3.1 Block 1 - Basic Training (TWR_BTRG)

During this section, students will complete a group seminar and a series of 2 sweatbox sessions. In these 2 sessions, they will get the opportunity to practise all the skills required to be a TWR controller in the UK on the sweatbox server in a one-to-one environment with a mentor. Mentoring sessions will be mainly focused on the practical aspects of controlling.

To accompany practical sessions, each lesson during this block has an associated lesson on Moodle. Students must complete the Moodle lessons in sequential order and it is strongly recommend that students only move on to the next lesson once they are confident in all areas of theory in the previous lesson.

3.1.1 Self Study

Students are expected to attend each session with a good knowledge of the relevant theory. Sessions may be concluded early or rescheduled to another time should the student lack the pre-requisite knowledge.

Turning up to sessions prepared ensures that students obtain the most out of each session while also ensuring that mentors time is utilised efficiently.

We expect that the amount of self-study needed will be much higher than during the second block. Although the actual amount of time needed will vary from person to person, we expect you to commit roughly ‘time twice’ to self-study - this means for each 1.5-hour mentoring session, you should spend another 1.5 hours consolidating your knowledge and preparing for your next session.

3.2 Block 2 - Consolidation and Network Practice

During Block 2, students will have multiple one-to-one mentoring sessions that are focussed on consolidating the skills learnt during Block 1, specifically applying them to network traffic.

Mentors are to cater what is covered in these sessions to the strengths and weaknesses of the student.

For most students, who actively participate in sessions and partake in regular self-study, we expect this block to consist of 5 to 9 sessions

3.2.1 Solo Tower Validation (STV)

As students near the end of training, they may be issued with a Solo Tower Validation. This is a time-limited endorsement which allows students to control solo on the position on which they are training. Validations will have a maximum length of 30 days from the mentoring session in which it was recommended. Throughout tower training, a student may only have a maximum of 90 days of solo validations.

3.2.2 Self Study

During this block, self-study is still of high importance. By this point, students should already have a good knowledge of:

• All the theory material for S2 training.
• The vMATS Pt.2 of their designated aerodrome.

Most of the student’s self-study should be spent keeping this knowledge up to date and revising any topics that they may have struggled with in your previous mentoring sessions.

3.3 End of Block 2 Exam (TWR_B2)

The End of Block Exam is designed as a training checkpoint aimed to assess the capabilities of the student before moving onto the next training block. The End of Block 2 Exam is considered a mock exam before students are forwarded for their practical examination.

It should be performed on the live network (preferred) or the Sweatbox server. The decision of exam environment (network or sweatbox) should take into consideration traffic levels at the aerodrome at that time of day. If the student is deemed ready for the exam, the TGIs will forward the student in the relevant channel.

Section 4 | Block 1 (Basic Training) Lesson Plans

The lesson plans presented below should be taught to students in the order that they are presented in this document. At the end of each lesson, if a learning objective/aim has not been covered or met, mentors are requested to note this in the ‘additional comments’ box of the mentoring report.

Occasionally, it can be advantageous to revisit a particular lesson or a series of lessons, or to integrate and consolidate different lessons. Mentors are encouraged to do this where it is beneficial to do so.

4.1 Lesson One - Group Seminar

This group session is designed to allow TG Leads to cover the basic, generic S2 competencies in a group session rather than individual 1-1 sessions. The session will endeavour to cover the expectations of students during training - namely students’ engagement, self-study and progression.

4.2 Lesson Two

4.1 Lesson Three

Section 5 | Syllabus

5.1 Takeoff and Landing Clearances

The student should be able to issue:

• Safe takeoff and landing clearances, using correct phraseology;
• The correct surface wind;
• Touch-and-go, land only and low approach clearances when appropriate with relevant minimum altitude;
• Land after clearances in line with local documentation;

5.2 Missed Approaches

The student should be able to:

• Acknowledge a missed approach and coordinate the relevant receiving unit;
• Issue appropriate tactical headings (no more than 30 degrees deviation from the runway course) should the situation require;
• Complete all the above expeditiously, and any instructions given by the next controller (by coordination) are relayed to the pilot before hand-off occurs.

5.3 Transfer of Traffic / Handoffs and Sector Ownership

The student should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of when to hand aircraft off in different situations;
• Recall the correct receiving unit for traffic leaving the frequency;

5.4 Release and Checks

The student should be able to:

• Demonstrate an awareness of when and with whom coordination should occur;
• Obtain a release when required as per local documentation;
• Comply with radar checks imposed by APC or ENR;
• Conduct coordination in a standard manner and is clear, coherent and concise.

5.5 Radiotelephony

The student should be able to:

• Use standard radiotelephony in accordance with CAP413 and issue unambiguous instructions;
• Issue decisive, concise instructions that do not contain superfluous words or phrases;
• Displays an appreciation of where non-standard phraseology may be appropriate;

5.6 Workload Management and Temperment

The student should be able to:

• Apply an appropriate rate of speech for the situation that they are in;
• Clearly plan their instructions before keying up on frequency;
• Avoid using unnecessary pauses or corrections where possible;
• Delays, denies and prioritises flights where appropriate;
• Remain calm and professional on all communication mediums.

5.7 Euroscope Setup

The student should be able to:

• Set up their controller client prior to beginning controlling in order to effectively control the position they are operating;
• Use a training callsign where required (T);
• Use the up-to-date sector file;
• Setup the active runway dialog;
• Setup an ATIS either using the in-built Euroscope ATIS or vATIS.

5.8 Use of Datablocks and Scratchpads

The student should be able to:

• Update the datablock frequently as new information is available – the information inputted is correct and valid;
• Use the scratchpads as a memory aid.

Note: The use of scratchpads is not mandated. But their use is highly recommended.

5.9 Traffic information

The student should be able to:

• Provide sufficient and accurate traffic information about relevant traffic;
• Issue deconflicting instructions in ‘duty of care’ situations;

5.10 VFR Departures

The student should be able to:

• Issue a standard clearance or obtain a non-standard clearance from the correct controller according local documentation;
• Issue the coordinated clearance to the pilot in full and obtain a correct readback;
• With the absence of top-down coverage, monitor aircraft up to a VRP/point within the vicinity of the CTR boundary.

5.11 VFR Arrivals

The student should be able to:

• Listen to and understand coordination from an adjacent controller regarding the arriving aircraft;
• With the absence of top-down coverage, or where otherwise appropriate, the student provides a suitable clearance to enter controlled airspace;
• Provide appropriate joining instructions to the aircraft having verified that the pilot has the aerodrome in-sight.

5.12 Circuit Management

The student should be able to:

• Issue correct circuit instructions as per local documentation;
• Demonstrate the ability to handle more than one aircraft in the circuit safely and efficiently;
• Issue traffic information and delaying action when appropriate;
• Coordinate the commencement and termination of the visual circuit.

5.13 VFR Transits

The student should be able to:

• Cross transiting traffic with regard to any conflicting aircraft safely and efficiently;
• Provide traffic information, ensures that visual contact has been established and use conditional instructions appropriately;
• Coordinate with the appropriate controller to establish a clearance limit for the transit where required.

5.14 Situational Awareness and Communicaion Priority

The student should be able to:

• Manage all aircraft with their AoR;
• Issue instructions in good time, prioritising transmissions appropriately;
• Usually prioritise scheduled IFR traffic over non-scheduled VFR.

5.15 VFR/IFR Integration

The student should be able to:

• Demonstrate the use of delaying tactics such as orbits to effectively sequence aircraft;
• Recommend wake turbulence separation requirements to pilots;
• Use traffic information to facilitate an efficient traffic flow.

5.16 Conditional Clearances

The student should be able to:

• Use conditional clearances to facilitate an efficient traffic flow without seeking to confuse pilots;
• Use multiple conditional clearances to maximise runway occupancy with varying arrivals, departures and crossers;
• Recognise when multiple conditional clearances are detrimental;
• Recognise that conditional clearances cannot be used during LVPs.

5.17 Sequencing

The student should be able to:

• Plan and execute an efficient departure order taking into account route, wake and speed separation minima;
• Demonstrate an understanding of aircraft performance requirements and selects appropriate holding points for aircraft;
• Coordinate with GMC to assist in the planning of the departure order

5.18 Training Aerodrome Overview

The student should be able to:

• Present a general overview of their training aerodrome upon request and should include information such as, but not limited to: Preferential Runway, Circuit Information, VFR Procedures, Typical Route Separation and Local Squawk Ranges.

5.19 Area of Responsibility (AoR)

The student should be able to:

• Define AIR’s area of responsibility;
• Identify at least the four key features of the ATZ (height, width, centre point and classification);
• Explain the radius change of the ATZ with regards to runway length;
• Explain the change of their AoR when there is no top-down coverage online.

5.20 Gap Strategies and Coordination with APC

The student should be able to:

• Recall the expected arrival spacing they will receive from APC;
• Engage with APP to request more spacing to allow for the integration of VFR traffic;
• Acknowledge and cooperate with coordination from APC regarding reduced spacing in periods of low departure flow.

5.21 Handover Coordination

The student should be able to:

• Perform an efficient and unambiguous handover using one of the two approved mnemonics listed below;

CRAFT

• C Controllers (Adjacent)
• R Runway in use
• A ATIS and Weather
• F Flow Management (Any MDIs, CTOTs etc.)
• T Worked Traffic S Strips | Worked Traffic

OR RAWNS

• R Roles | Top-down responsibilities
• A Airport(s) | Runways
• W Weather | ATIS
• N Non standard info | Flow Restrictions, VFR or any coordinated traffic from APC
• S Strips | Worked Traffic

5.22 Flight Rules and Classification of Airspace

The student should be able to:

• Identify and define the classifications of airspace of the ATZ, CTR and CTA at their training aerodrome;
• Identify traffic that must receive traffic information inside Class D airspace;
• Define VMC minima.

5.23 Altimetry and Meteorology

The student should be able to:

• Select an appropriate runway for the given conditions;
• Define when LVPs would be in force and update ATIS when required;
• Identify where conditions may hinder the effectiveness of traffic information in their goal of VFR/IFR Integration;
• Explain the difference between height and altitude and identify which pressure setting should be used.

5.24 Non-standard IFR Departures

The student should be able to:

• Listen to and understand coordination from APC regarding non-standard approaches (anything other than an ILS approach);
• Correctly coordinate non-standard IFR departures with APC/ENR as per local procedures.