ATCO.B.025 Unit competence scheme

ANNEX I – PART ATCO – REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LICENSING OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS · Regulation (EU) 2015/340 · EAR revision 14 Jun 2024

IRImplementing rule

ATCO.B.025Unit competence scheme

(a)Unit competence schemes shall be established by the air navigation service provider and approved by the competent authority. It shall include at least the following elements:

(1)the validity of the unit endorsement in accordance with ATCO.B.020(e);

(2)the maximum continuous period when the privileges of a unit endorsement are not exercised during its validity. This period shall not exceed 90 calendar days;

(3)the minimum number of hours for exercising the privileges of the unit endorsement within a defined period of time, which shall not exceed 12 months, for the purpose of ATCO.B.020(g)(1). For on-the-job training instructors exercising the privileges of the OJTI endorsement the time spent instructing shall be counted for the maximum of 50 % of the hours required for revalidation of the unit endorsement.

(4)procedures for the cases where the licence holder does not meet the requirements set out in point (a)(2) and (3);

(5)processes for assessing competence, including assessment of the refresher training subjects according to ATCO.D.080(b);

(6)processes for the examination of theoretical knowledge and understanding necessary to exercise privileges of the ratings and endorsements;

(7)processes to identify the topics and subtopics, objectives and training methods for continuation training;

(8)the minimum duration and frequency of the refresher training;

(9)processes for the examination of theoretical knowledge and/or the assessment of practical skills acquired during conversion training, including pass marks for examinations;

(10)processes in case of failure of an examination or assessment, including the appeal processes;

(11)training personnel qualifications, roles and responsibilities;

(12)procedure to ensure that practical instructors have practised instructional techniques in the procedures in which it is intended to provide instruction in accordance with ATCO.C.010(b)(3) and ATCO.C.030(b)(3);

(13)procedures for the declaration and the management of cases of provisional inability to exercise the privileges of a licence, as well as for informing the competent authority in accordance with ATCO.A.015(d);

(14)identification of records to be kept specific to continuation training and assessments, in accordance with ATCO.AR.B.015;

(15)process and reasons for reviewing and amending the unit competence scheme and its submission to the competent authority. The review of the unit competence scheme shall take place at least once every three years.

(b)In order to comply with the requirement set out in point (a)(3), air navigation service providers shall keep records of the hours, during which each licence holder exercises the privileges of his/her unit endorsement working in sectors, group of sectors and/or working positions in the ATC unit and shall provide that data to the competent authorities and to the licence holder upon request.

(c)When establishing the procedures referred to in point (a)(4) and (13) air navigation service providers shall ensure that mechanisms are applied to guarantee fair treatment of licence holders where the validity of their endorsements cannot be extended. [applicable until 3 August 2024 - Regulation (EU) 2015/340]

(a)Unit competence scheme(s) shall be established by the air navigation service provider and approved by the competent authority. A unit competence scheme shall include at least the following elements:

(1)the validity of the unit endorsement(s) in accordance with point ATCO.B.020(g); [applicable until 12 May 2026 - Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/893]

(1)a list of unit endorsement(s) and their validity in accordance with point ATCO.B.020(g); [applicable from 13 May 2026 - Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2143]

(2)the maximum continuous period when the privileges of a unit endorsement are not exercised during its validity. This period shall not exceed 90 calendar days;

(3)the minimum number of hours or, in the case of SRA and PAR rating endorsements, the minimum number of approaches, for exercising the privileges of the unit endorsement within a defined period of time, which shall not exceed 12 months, for the purpose of point ATCO.B.020(i)(1). For on-the-job training instructors exercising the privileges of the OJTI endorsement, the time spent instructing shall be counted for the maximum of 50 % of the hours required for revalidation of the unit endorsement; [applicable until 12 May 2026 - Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/893]

(3)for the purpose of maintaining competence, the minimum number of hours exercising the privileges of the unit endorsement, or, in the case of SRA and PAR, the minimum number of approaches, for a preceding period of time, which shall not exceed 12 months; for on-the-job training instructors exercising the privileges of the OJTI endorsement, the time spent instructing shall be counted for the maximum of 50 % of the hours required for revalidation of the unit endorsement; [applicable from 13 May 2026 - Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2143]

(4)procedures for the cases where the licence holder does not meet the requirements set out in points (a)(2) and (3);

(5)processes for assessing competence, including assessment of the refresher training subjects according to point ATCO.D.080(b);

(6)processes for the examination of theoretical knowledge and understanding necessary to exercise the privileges of the ratings and endorsements;

(7)processes to identify the topics and subtopics, objectives and training methods for continuation training;

(8)the minimum duration and frequency of the refresher training;

(9)processes for the examination of theoretical knowledge and/or the assessment of practical skills acquired during conversion training, including pass marks for examinations;

(10)processes in case of failure of an examination or assessment, including the appeal processes;

(11)training personnel qualifications, roles and responsibilities;

(12)a procedure to ensure that practical instructors have practised instructional techniques in the procedures in which instruction is provided in accordance with point ATCO.C.010(b)(3) and point ATCO.C.030(b)(3);

(14)identification of records to be kept specific to continuation training and assessments, in accordance with point ATCO.OR.C.020;

(15)a process and reasons for reviewing and amending the unit competence scheme and its submission to the competent authority. The review of the unit competence scheme shall take place at least once every 3 years.

(b)In order to comply with the requirement set out in point (a)(3), air navigation service providers shall keep records of the hours during which each licence holder exercises the privileges of his or her unit endorsement(s) working in sectors, group of sectors and/or working positions in the ATC unit, and shall provide that data to the competent authorities and to the licence holder upon request.

(c)When establishing the procedures referred to in points (a)(4) and (a)(13), air navigation service providers shall ensure that mechanisms are applied to guarantee fair treatment of licence holders where the validity of their endorsements cannot be extended. [applicable from 4 August 2024 - Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/893]

IR · ATCO.B.025 — Regulation (EU) 2015/340 · ATCO Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 14 Jun 2024

GMGuidance material

GM1 ATCO.B.025(a)(3)Unit competence scheme

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[applicable until 3 August 2024 - ED Decision 2015/010/R]

AMC1 ATCO.B.025(a)(3) Unit competence scheme [applicable from 4 August 2024 - ED Decision 2023/011/R]

MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS The minimum number of hours should be defined for each unit endorsement and it should be identical for each unit endorsement holder within the same unit. For licence holders holding more than one unit endorsement in the same ATC unit, the minimum number of hours may be defined as a combined value based on the assessment provided by the air navigation service provider. Nevertheless, maintaining competence should be appropriately ensured for all valid unit endorsements. [applicable until 3 August 2024 - ED Decision 2015/010/R]

MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS The minimum number of hours should be defined for each unit endorsement associated to a rating, and it should be identical for each unit endorsement holder within the same unit. For licence holders holding more than one unit endorsement in the same ATC unit, the minimum number of hours may be defined as a combined value based on the assessment provided by the air navigation service provider. Nevertheless, maintaining competence should be appropriately ensured for all valid unit endorsements, as well as for all sectors and/or working positions covered by a unit endorsement. [applicable from 4 August 2024 - ED Decision 2023/011/R]

GM · GM1 ATCO.B.025(a)(3) — Regulation (EU) 2015/340 · ED Decision 2023/011/R · ATCO Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 14 Jun 2024

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC1 ATCO.B.025(a)(5);(6) Unit competence scheme

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PROCESSES FOR ASSESSING COMPETENCE AND EXAMINING THEORETICAL KNOWLEGDE AND UNDERSTANDING

(a)The practical performance and skills should be assessed in live traffic situations.

(b)Theoretical competence should be examined to ascertain the knowledge and understanding of air traffic controllers.

(c)Subjects taught during refresher training such as standard practices and procedures, abnormal and emergency situations and human factors should be assessed on STD or in other simulated environments and/or examined.

AMC · AMC1 ATCO.B.025(a)(5) — Regulation (EU) 2015/340 · ED Decision 2015/010/R · ATCO Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 14 Jun 2024

GMGuidance material

GM1 ATCO.B.025(a)(5)Unit competence scheme

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ASSESSMENTS

(a)Assessments may have one or more components.

(b)One component should be the assessment of practical skills; other components may be oral and/or written examinations.

(c)Practical skills assessments should be conducted as continuous assessment or dedicated practical assessment(s).

(d)Continuous assessment Continuous assessment should be achieved by the assessor assessing, during normal operational duties, the operational performance compared to the standard of the air traffic control service expected. Where the assessor has not been able to adequately assess the air traffic controller by continuous assessment, he/she should not certify the air traffic controller’s competence until a dedicated practical assessment has been conducted.

(e)Dedicated practical assessment A dedicated practical assessment may consist of a single assessment or a series of assessments. To conduct a dedicated practical assessment, the assessor(s) should sit with the air traffic controller with the purpose of assessing, under normal operational conditions, the operational performance compared to the standard of the air traffic control service expected. The air traffic controller concerned should be advised that a dedicated practical assessment is to be conducted and be briefed on the conduct of the assessment. For those situations where an applicant’s performance cannot be observed at the time of the assessment (e.g. low visibility operations, snow clearing, military activity, etc.), the assessment may be supplemented by synthetic training device sessions and/or an oral examination.

(f)The performance objectives’ topics to be assessed should be determined in detail by the air navigation service provider. Examples of performance objectives’ topics are as follows: application of unit regulations and procedures (e.g. minimum separation standards, letters of agreement, Aeronautical Information Publications); traffic analysis and planning; task priority setting; communication, including phraseology; capacity and expedition; accuracy; initiative, adaptability and decision-making; air traffic control techniques; teamwork and other human factors skills; the level of risk associated with the tasks performed (e.g. attitudes to risk).

(g)Procedures when failing Notwithstanding ATCO.B.025(a)(10), when an air traffic controller fails in one or more of the components of the assessment, he/she should not be allowed to exercise the privilege of this unit endorsement, and provisional inability in accordance with ATCO.A.015(b) may be declared until a successful competence assessment has been performed. Resitting the full competence assessment or the failed part only may be required.

(h)Record keeping The results of all assessments, including those of the continuous assessment, and examinations should be documented and stored confidentially, accessible to the assessor and the person being assessed.

GM · GM1 ATCO.B.025(a)(5) — Regulation (EU) 2015/340 · ED Decision 2015/010/R · ATCO Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 14 Jun 2024

GMGuidance material

GM2 ATCO.B.025(a)(5)Unit competence scheme

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ASSESSMENTS Assessments should be adapted to the validity time of the unit endorsement of the ATC unit. The assessment of air traffic controllers at ATC units with seasonal variations should reflect the higher volume and complexity situations.

GM · GM2 ATCO.B.025(a)(5) — Regulation (EU) 2015/340 · ED Decision 2015/010/R · ATCO Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 14 Jun 2024

GMGuidance material

GM3 ATCO.B.025(a)(5)Unit competence scheme

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ASSESSMENTS OF REFRESHER TRAINING SUBJECTS

(a)Assessments should be conducted primarily on a synthetic training device or offline environments.

(b)Assessments should be conducted by appropriately qualified personnel having detailed knowledge of:

(1)the training objectives; and

(2)the subjects, topics and subtopics being examined or assessed.

GM · GM3 ATCO.B.025(a)(5) — Regulation (EU) 2015/340 · ED Decision 2015/010/R · ATCO Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 14 Jun 2024

GMGuidance material

GM1 ATCO.B.025(a)(6)Unit competence scheme

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ORAL EXAMINATIONS Oral examinations should be used to test understanding of applicable techniques and the rules governing them, particularly of unit and national air traffic control procedures. Scenario-type questioning allows the assessor to gather additional evidence of how an air traffic controller would react in circumstances that are not observable but are nevertheless considered important to the overall operation at that ATC unit. The oral examination should give a clear indication that the air traffic controller knows not only what he/she should be doing, but why he/she should be doing it. The oral examination requires considerable skills and it should be undertaken in a way to ensure consistency among individual assessors.

GM · GM1 ATCO.B.025(a)(6) — Regulation (EU) 2015/340 · ED Decision 2015/010/R · ATCO Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 14 Jun 2024

GMGuidance material

GM1 ATCO.B.025(a)(9)Unit competence scheme

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EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENTS DURING CONVERSION TRAINING

(a)Assessments should be conducted primarily on a synthetic training device or offline environments.

(b)Examinations and assessments should be conducted by appropriately qualified personnel having detailed knowledge of:

(1)the training objectives; and

(2)the subjects, topics and subtopics being examined or assessed.

GM · GM1 ATCO.B.025(a)(9) — Regulation (EU) 2015/340 · ED Decision 2015/010/R · ATCO Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 14 Jun 2024

All rules in SUBPART B – LICENCES, RATINGS AND ENDORSEMENTS

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 14 Jun 2024, extracted 17 Aug 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.

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