ATC Training in Latvia vACC

Welcome to the virtual Area Control Centre of Latvia on the VATSIM Network! As any other subdivision on VATSIM, our vACC provides ATC training to everyone interested. This page contains all information that one would need to join the vACC and start their training.

Table of Contents

• About Latvia vACC
• Information for New Members
• Beginning of Training
• Rating Progression
• Visiting Controllers

About Latvia vACC

The Republic of Latvia is a country in Europe located in the heart of the Baltic region, it borders Estonia to the north, Russia to the east, as well as Belarus, and Lithuania to the south. Latvia is a member of the European Union and NATO, and is home to around 1,8 million people, a large part of whom live in the capital - Rīga.

On the VATSIM Network Latvia is represented by Latvia vACC which is a part of the VATSIM Europe (VATEUD) division and VATSIM Europe, Middle East and Africa (VATEMEA) region. The vACC is managed and governed by global, divisional as well as internal policies which are enforced and applied by the vACC Staff Team. To find out more about the administrative side of Latvia vACC, see the contact page.

Information for New Members

If you are looking to start your VATSIM ATC career in Latvia vACC, you have to fulfil the following steps before training can begin:

1. Become a member of Latvia vACC. To check your current membership allocation, head to my.vatsim.net/profile. If your allocation (Region - Division - Subdivision) is not Europe, Middle East and Africa - Europe (except UK) - Latvia, you should request a transfer. If your region needs changing, see my.vatsim.net/user/region. If your division or subdivision is different from the one above, but the region is the same, you should submit a transfer request on core.vateud.net/my/transfer. Transfers between different allocations are governed by the Transfer and Visiting Controllers Policy (TVCP), refer to this policy to find out if you are eligible for a transfer to Latvia vACC.
2. Familiarise yourself with the structure of Latvian airspace. It is strongly recommended that you have a look at the Latvian AIP and spend some time observing already trained Ground Movement Control (GMC) controllers on the network. For more information on observing on the network, see documents published by the vACC. It is better to observe during events when Rīga is under high traffic load, i.e. during events, see our regular event schedule here.
3. Request your training! Latvia vACC hosts a bespoke training management platform Latvia vACC OneTest through which you can request your training. Your training progress will be tracked on this platform in full!

Beginning of Training

After you submit a training request, you will be placed in the queue. When your turn comes up, you will be contacted by a mentor or a vACC examiner to schedule and plan your training. The first part of your training is Ground Movement Control (GMC) familiarisation. It consists of 4 steps:

• Self-study of operating procedures and theory.
• Introductory simulated session with a mentor.
• Theory tests by the vACC and VATEUD (VATSIM Europe Division) and issue of the S1 rating.
• A couple online sessions with a mentor for additional software familiarisation and event-readiness.

Once that is done, you will become a fully-fletched GMC controller and will continue your training journey to TWR (Tower) controlling!

Rating Progression

After your introduction to controlling is complete and you are an active GMC ATCO, the training process becomes rather cyclical. Each new rating (S2, S3, and C1) requires the following steps to be completed:

1. You are eligible to submit a new training request once 50 hours of controlling have been gained and/or 90 days have passed since the last rating upgrade.
2. You submit your training request and wait in the queue till a mentor or a vACC examiner contacts you. In the mean time, you are encouraged to engage in self-study of theory materials provided by the vACC Training Department.
3. Engage in practical training (simulated and online) with a mentor or a vACC examiner.
4. Perfect your controlling to the point that your mentor or vACC examiner deems you eligible for a SOLO endorsement.
5. Pass local and VATEUD theory tests.
6. Request and pass a Controller Practical Test (CPT).

After you have passed a CPT the vACC ATC Training Director will review and process the rating upgrade.

Visiting Controllers

Eligibility for visitor training and receiving endorsements in Latvia vACC is determined by the Transfer and Visiting Controllers Policy (TVCP) and current vACC Training Department workload.

The following requirements apply to intra-divisional (VATEUD) visiting controllers:

• S2 consolidated controller rating or greater. (A consolidated rating is one with 50 hours on said rating and at least 90 days since the last transfer or rating upgrade.),
• Continued interest and self-study of training materials while in queue.

The following requirements apply to inter-divisional (non-VATEUD) visiting controllers:

• S3 consolidated controller rating or greater. (A consolidated rating is one with 50 hours on said rating and at least 90 days since the last transfer or rating upgrade.)
• A recommendation letter from an approved home subdivision examiner, ATC Training Director, subdivision Director, or a higher level training department staff member of the applicant's home division. The recommendation letter should be sent to the Latvia vACC ATC Training Director via email, see: Staff / Contact.
• Continued interest and self-study of training materials while in queue.

All visiting controller applications are processed through Latvia vACC OneTest.