Surveillance (SUR) is the backbone of modern Air Traffic Control (ATC), providing real-time situational awareness to controllers. It includes Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR), Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR), ADS-B, and multilateration (MLAT). These technologies ensure safe airspace management by tracking aircraft positions, verifying identification, and maintaining operational efficiency.ICAO Doc 10057 sets strict training requirements for ATSEPs working in SUR, emphasizing taxonomy Level 3 and above. This means trainees must gain applied, hands-on experience in operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting radar and surveillance infrastructure — a step beyond traditional classroom learning.
Aviation academies and ANSPs worldwide must adopt ICAO 10057-compliant training to ensure ATSEPs are fully prepared for real-world challenges.
ICAO 10057 Requirements for ATSEP Surveillance (SUR) Training
ICAO Doc 10057 highlights key competencies for ATSEP training in Surveillance, including:
- Understanding the principles of primary and secondary radar (PSR, SSR, Mode S, ADS-B, MLAT).
- Hands-on troubleshooting of radar faults (e.g., signal degradation, power fluctuations, antenna misalignments).
- Diagnosis of real-world operational issues, including interference, clutter reduction, and aircraft tracking errors.
- Integration with ATM systems for proper data fusion and handovers.
Since taxonomy Level 3+ training is required, ATSEP trainees must not only understand theory but also apply their knowledge through interactive, real-world exercises.
The Shift to Applied Learning in ATSEP Surveillance Training
Traditional ATSEP training often relies on classroom lectures and PowerPoint slides, which do not meet ICAO 10057 standards. Instead, ICAO mandates an applied learning approach, meaning ATSEPs must engage in:
- Real-time fault injection scenarios – Simulating issues like antenna misalignment, power amplifier failures, and transponder malfunctions.
- Radar performance analysis – Understanding signal strength, clutter filtering, and weather interference.
- Corrective maintenance training – Hands-on exercises in antenna calibration, circuit diagnostics, and waveform analysis.
- Live data processing and integration – Working with ADS-B, MLAT, and radar feeds in an ATC-like environment.
The best way to implement this? Simulation-based training labs that allow ATSEPs to practice without disrupting operational ATC systems.
How Simulation-Based Labs Ensure ICAO 10057 Compliance in SUR Training
ICAO 10057 compliance requires more than theoretical instruction—it demands hands-on application. Modern browser-based and real-radar training labs allow ATSEPs to:
1. Train on Real Radar & Simulated Environments
Trainees work with Primary and Secondary Radar systems, ADS-B, and MLAT using actual and simulated signals. This enables:
- Realistic aircraft tracking and clutter management.
- Signal processing and diagnostics for radar faults.
- Training in different operational conditions, including weather impact and system failures.
2. Fault Injection & Corrective Maintenance
ICAO-compliant training means ATSEPs must be able to diagnose and fix real-world radar faults. Interactive labs provide:
- Fault injection exercises, including simulated power failures, signal loss, and radar misalignment.
- Hands-on calibration of antennas and RF circuits.
- Real-time troubleshooting using diagnostic tools.
3. Integration with Air Traffic Management (ATM) Systems
Surveillance training must prepare ATSEPs to work within a complex ATM environment. Simulation labs allow trainees to:
- Analyze radar plots and track aircraft handovers between control sectors.
- Optimize radar performance for clutter suppression, target detection, and trajectory prediction.
- Work with real-time ADS-B and MLAT feeds to manage surveillance data fusion.
How Aviation Academies Can Implement ICAO 10057-Compliant SUR Training
To align with ICAO 10057, aviation academies should:
- Invest in advanced training labs that combine real and simulated radar environments.
- Use hands-on exercises with fault injection, live diagnostics, and performance tuning.
- Ensure training covers PSR, SSR, ADS-B, and MLAT, including signal processing and ATM integration.
- Incorporate cloud-based and remote learning to provide scalable, cost-effective ATSEP education.
Future-Proofing ATSEP Surveillance Training
Surveillance (SUR) training is one of the most critical areas for ATSEPs, requiring deep technical expertise and hands-on experience. By aligning with ICAO 10057 and using simulation-based training, aviation academies can:
- Deliver high-quality, compliant training.
- Improve trainee engagement and knowledge retention.
- Ensure ATSEPs are fully equipped for operational roles in air traffic surveillance.
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