In all LVNL procedures, safety is the first priority. Our operations are conducted in accordance with the Operations Manual.
The manual sets out procedures and working methods to be observed by operational personnel so that they perform their duties safely and efficiently.
The information is based upon ICAO regulations and recommendations, European and national regulations, Eurocontrol guidelines and agreements between different air traffic service (ATS) centres.
Training operational staff
The professionalism of our operational staff is the product of a long and thorough training process, lasting several years. Only after completing this successfully and passing all the necessary examinations are personnel licenced to work as air traffic controllers. And even then we continue to monitor and maintain their professional skills.
To keep their qualifications and licences up to date, air traffic controllers must work regularly. There are minimum requirements, in terms of the number of shifts worked independently, for each professional ability forming part of the job. From time to time, every controller undergoes an on-the-job assessment by specially trained colleagues to check that their work is up to the required standard. If any potential shortcoming is identified, we act immediately to provide additional individual training or supervision.
All operational staff must take a theory test once a year. Should they fail that, they are given one chance to resit it. If they fail again, they must take a theory retraining programme. In addition, everyone is required to attend at least four sessions of refresher training a year. Combining classroom, simulator and computer-based work, these sessions reiterate the theory as well as providing practice in dealing with both day-to-day and unusual situations. When new procedures or systems are to be introduced, a plan for the systematic induction of the personnel using them is drawn up in advance. This may include everything from theory sessions to extensive simulator training.