ICAO Doc 10057 and Hands-On ATSEP Surveillance Qualification Training with SkyRadar

This article explores ATSEP Surveillance Qualification Training under ICAO Doc 10057, emphasizing hands-on learning with SkyRadar's advanced tools.

Introduction

Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEP) are crucial to the operation, maintenance, and monitoring of air traffic management systems. According to ICAO Doc 10057, qualification training for ATSEP in surveillance systems is a vital step within the initial training phase, following basic training. This phase requires a focus on taxonomy levels 3 and 4, where trainees are expected to apply and analyze theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios.

This blog will explore ICAO Doc 10057’s requirements for Surveillance Qualification Training, emphasizing the need for hands-on learning. We will also highlight how SkyRadar’s solutions, including FreeScopes modules and radar simulators, align with these standards.

Taxonomy and the Need for Practical Training

Appendix C of ICAO Doc 10057 introduces a six-level training objectives taxonomy tailored to the development of Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEP). This taxonomy progresses through levels of complexity, requiring trainees to advance from basic knowledge to higher-order problem-solving skills:

• Level 0 (Awareness): Basic familiarity with a concept, without needing to perform tasks.
• Level 1 (Knowledge): Ability to recall and describe information accurately.
• Level 2 (Comprehension): Understanding concepts and their relationships.
• Level 3 (Application): Practical use of knowledge in specific scenarios.
• Level 4 (Analysis): Breaking down systems, troubleshooting, and interpreting data to diagnose issues.
• Level 5 (Synthesis and Evaluation): Combining components to improve systems and assessing performance against defined criteria.

For Qualification Training in the Surveillance (SUR) domain, ICAO emphasizes practical training starting at Level 3. At this level, trainees must apply theoretical knowledge to real-world tasks such as operating surveillance equipment and setting radar parameters. Level 4 further demands analytical skills, such as identifying and troubleshooting system faults or optimizing operations under varying conditions.

The necessity for hands-on training becomes apparent as higher taxonomy levels require trainees to interact with real or simulated systems, ensuring they can apply and analyze theoretical concepts effectively. This experiential learning approach aligns with ICAO’s competency-based training model, ensuring ATSEP personnel are well-prepared for operational challenges.

Purely theoretical instruction is insufficient at these levels. Practical engagement ensures trainees develop the competencies needed for real-world tasks.

Surveillance Training Objectives in ICAO Doc 10057

Appendix B.4 of ICAO Doc 10057 specifies training objectives for surveillance systems. Trainees must achieve competencies in areas such as:

• Understanding the principles of primary and secondary radar systems.
• Operating and calibrating radar systems.
• Analyzing and troubleshooting radar outputs.
• Understanding the impact of surveillance data on air traffic management.

SkyRadar’s suite of training tools supports these objectives through hands-on exercises and real-time system interaction.

SkyRadar’s Solutions for Surveillance Qualification Training

SkyRadar provides a range of tools and systems tailored to meet ICAO’s training requirements. Below, we map key training objectives to SkyRadar’s products.

1. Understanding Radar Principles

SkyRadar’s FreeScopes Basic I offers a foundation for understanding primary and secondary radar operations:

• A-Scopes and B-Scopes: Visualize radar signal returns and understand target reflections.
• Plan Position Indicator (PPI): Simulate real-world radar screens for air traffic control.
• IQ Data Blocks: Explore in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) components of radar signals.

Trainees can adjust static thresholds, MTI (Moving Target Indication), and STC (Sensitivity Time Control) to understand the dynamics of radar signal processing.

2. Advanced Signal Analysis

SkyRadar’s FreeScopes Basic II, ATC I, and ATC II offer comprehensive tools for trainees to deepen their understanding of signal analysis, focusing on both frequency-domain interpretation and advanced post-processing techniques. These systems provide the hands-on experience needed to achieve the analytical skills required at taxonomy level 4, where trainees must analyze and optimize radar performance in dynamic environments.

Key Features and Applications:

1. FreeScopes Basic II:

   • 3D Scope and Heatmap Visualizations: Enable trainees to interpret complex radar data by visualizing spatial and intensity variations across targets.
   • C-FAR (2D): Teach trainees how to reduce clutter and filter noise in multidimensional radar returns, enhancing target discrimination.
   • FFT (2D): Analyze frequency components of radar signals, allowing trainees to identify and isolate targets based on their spectral signatures.

2. FreeScopes ATC I:

   • Radar Plots and Tracks: Provide real-time visualization and tracking of moving targets, aligning with practical radar operation training.
   • MTI Post-Processing: Enable trainees to refine moving target indications through advanced processing techniques, ensuring accurate detection.
   • Moving Target Detection (MTD) and MTD-DF: Trainees learn to distinguish moving targets from stationary clutter and detect Doppler frequency shifts caused by target motion.
   • Standing Person Recognition Algorithm: A specialized feature that highlights static objects like people within radar coverage, broadening operational insights.

3. FreeScopes ATC II:

   • Interactive Multiple Model (iMM): Allows trainees to apply multiple prediction models for target tracking, enhancing accuracy in complex scenarios.
   • Kalman Filter: Provides a hands-on understanding of this essential algorithm, enabling trainees to predict and correct target positions by filtering out noise.
   • Zero Velocity Filter: Trainees can isolate stationary targets amidst clutter, improving radar clarity and situational awareness.
   • Clutter Map Subtraction: Offers tools for environmental noise suppression, helping trainees analyze radar performance in cluttered environments.
   • Doppler Filter and Signal Delay Block: Introduce advanced filtering and signal management techniques for detecting velocity and reducing time-lag effects.

This module integrates theory with application, enabling trainees to master signal analysis, target tracking, and clutter management, ensuring readiness for complex operational scenarios.

3. Signal Processing and Modulation

In FreeScopes Basic III, trainees explore advanced signal processing:

• Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF): Learn how PRF affects target resolution and radar coverage.
• Noise Management and Filtering: Understand the impact of noise and apply filtering techniques to enhance signal clarity.
• Constellation and Eye Diagrams: Analyze modulated signals to study communication channels in surveillance systems.

This module integrates theory with application, ensuring trainees can handle complex scenarios.

4. Real-Time Surveillance and Data Processing

SkyRadar’s NextGen 5 GHz Pulse Radar provides hands-on experience with live radar data, bridging the gap between simulation and real-world operations. Combined with FreeScopes ATC IV, trainees can:

• Fuse multisensor data: Integrate radar, ADS-B, and MLAT inputs for a unified air traffic picture.
• Apply velocity gating and target association: Identify and track moving targets.
• Perform position prediction and tracking: Develop essential skills for surveillance data processing.

These features align with ICAO’s requirement for understanding the operational impact of surveillance systems.

5. ADS-B and Multilateration (MLAT)

SkyRadar’s ADS-B Modules and FreeScopes ADS-B / -C provide training in automatic dependent surveillance:

• Visualizing ADS-B Data: Learn how to decode and plot aircraft positions.
• MLAT Operations: Use multilateration techniques to enhance positional accuracy.

Trainees can explore surveillance data beyond traditional radar systems, preparing for modernized air traffic surveillance.

6. ASTERIX Protocol and Mode S

SkyRadar’s ASTERIX / Mode S Protocol Simulator teaches trainees to decode ASTERIX and Mode S messages. This aligns with ICAO’s emphasis on understanding the data formats and communication protocols used in surveillance.

From Understanding the Basics to Mastering Advanced Technology

ICAO Doc 10057 sets rigorous standards for ATSEP surveillance qualification training, emphasizing practical, hands-on learning at taxonomy levels 3 and 4. SkyRadar’s suite of tools provides a comprehensive solution, allowing trainees to progress from understanding basic radar principles to mastering advanced data fusion and processing techniques.

By integrating SkyRadar’s products into training programs, aviation academies and air navigation service providers can ensure compliance with ICAO standards while equipping ATSEP personnel with the skills needed to maintain safe and efficient air traffic operations.

Stay tuned

Stay connected for more insights into ATSEP training, including our next article on unit training for ATSEP in surveillance systems.