Introduction to vZLA Training

This section will cover the steps needed to become a full certified controller at ZLA. It will also summarize the positions you may or may not work during your training.

Step 1: From joining to your first promotion.

Once you officially join ZLA from the VATUSA you will receive a welcome letter from ZLA, once you receive this letter you can complete the following.

Your first action at ZLA will be to complete the ZLA basic examination. To do this you must first log-onto the ZLA website. To do this go to Controller Login and hit the forgotten password link. An E-mail will go to your e-mail specified in your VATSIM profile with your ZLA password, once you have this password you may log into the website.

Once logged in you may edit your profile and change your password as desired. Then hit the exam center link, then request exam. You will be assigned the ZLA basic examination shorty after you join ZLA. This exam is a 25 question multiple choice open book exam covering general ATC, delivery, ground, and ZLA procedures. The minimum passing grade is 80% (20 questions correct). This training guide and the ZLA webpage contain all the answers to this exam.

After you pass this exam you will be assigned the clearance delivery written exam. The clearance delivery exam is a 15 question written exam that will test your ability to issue clearance to aircraft. It is required that you read this delivery section of this website before attempting the exam. The minimum passing grade is 80%. This test is hand graded and takes 1-2 days to grade.

If you fail either test you may be required to undergo a waiting period before retaking the exam.

Once you pass BOTH exams you will be assigned operating initials from the ATM (via E-mail). Once you receive operating initials you are ready to request your first training session.

Note: Controllers who only wish to work minor airports will not complete the basic or clearance exam and may directly request initials from the ATM, they should note in the E-mail that they only wish to work minor airports.

All session requests for ZLA training are done through out Training request center. This webpage is accessed through your controller login and the request training session. Once you are on this page you will see a grid. Click on the dates that you are available to work and fill in the times you are available. Note that the more availability you give us the faster you will receive training. You will be requesting level 1 training initially (Initial S1/2 checkout). If you are already certified as an S2 from another facility you will request level 2 training (delivery/ground training). You can skip the section on your first session below.

Once you have completed this your request will be sent to our training staff. Generally training is given at ZLA using the following priorities. Due to various reasons this list cannot be followed 100%.

- Over-The-Shoulder Examination (OTS exams)
- General Training
- Visiting controller training

Within each category sessions are determined by who has had the longest time since last session. As a new controller you will be at the top of the list under general (or visiting) training.
When a member of the training staff indicates that they can work with you, you will be sent a session confirmation E-mail. This E-mail will say who will be working with you, date/time of the session (most session are 1.5-2 hours), and a confirmation link. You MUST click on the confirmation link to accept this training session. Once you accept the training you are expected to show up. If you must cancel please use the request page and click on your blue session time to cancel. Note that canceling a session within 12 hours of the session time may result in being placed in the back of the line for your next session.

Once you have a confirmed session its time to configure your controlling software. Please see the section on the software that you plan to use on how to do this.

Your first session will be on what is called ACSIM or sweatbox. Because you are not a rated controller (VATSIM rating of OBS) software limitation will not allow you to log on as a student controller on the live network. You will meet your instructor on the ACSIM server (details on this server are in the software configuration section). Because of S1/2 requirements to have a general understanding of delivery, ground, and tower operations you should read those three sections of the website before the session. This session is teaching in nature and once complete you will complete one of two requirements to become a VATSIM S1 controller. Generally this is accomplished in 1 session.

Once you pass the ZLA S1/2 checkout you must pass the VATUSA S1 and S2 test. You will be sent a link with details on this test. It is a 25 question test which required 80% to pass. There is a mandatory waiting period if you do not pass this exam.

When you pass this exam you will be promoted to S2. You will receive an E-mail when this occurs. Once you are an S2 you are allowed to work the following positions:

- Any minor tower, ground, or delivery position during peak or off-peak hours.

- If you transfer/visit another facility they must allow you to work the above positions with only a basic local checkout.

At this point you are ready to begin step 2 of your training (step 1 for visiting/transferring controllers), certification for major delivery/ground positions. From joining ZLA to passing this first step in your career should take 1-2 weeks dependent on your performance on exams, and current ZLA training load.

Step 2: First live traffic session through your major tower certification.

The next major milestone in your career will be working through the delivery, ground, and tower facilities in ZLA. This step ends with your first formal OTS examination and authorization to work ANY ZLA tower, ground, or delivery position at any time.

The next step is to receive certification to work delivery/ground positions in ZLA. For convenience of training we combine the delivery and ground position training. Training for these positions is done at KLAX with live traffic. At this point you should use the training request system to request level 2 training. You should read and know in detail the delivery and ground sections of the website, the KLAX Delivery (DEL) and Ground (GND) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and the following SOPs: Issuing IFR clearances, Position Relief Briefing, Requirements for Controller Info Template and Voice ATIS, and Scratchpad and Temporary Altitude Entries.

When you meet your instructor/mentor you will log onto the vatsim network (not sweatbox) and work live traffic under the callsign LAX_S_GND. Once you meet specific requirements (listed in the ZLA tower PTS), you will be given the solo ground certification. This generally takes 2-4 sessions.

Once you are given this certification you may work the following additional positions in ZLA after becoming familiar with local SOPs:

- Any Delivery or Ground position at ZLA during peak and non-peak hours.

You should spend some solo time on these positions (primarily LAX_GND) before moving onto tower training. You must be comfortable in all aspects of DEL and GND ATC before moving to tower (TWR).
When you are ready to begin tower (local control) training you will first request the ZLA tower exam. This is a 50 question exam on all tower operations at ZLA. Reading all the local control SOPs, and the tower section of this website will prepare you for this open book multiple choice exam. A grade of 80% (40 questions right) is required to pass.

Once you pass this exam you are allowed to work the following positions:

- Any class D or Class C airport tower in ZLA during peak or non-peak hours. (Any airport in ZLA excluding KLAS, KLAX, KSAN, and KLSV).

After passing this exam you will request level 3 training (Initial tower training). Tower training at ZLA is split up into two sections: Pre-solo and post-solo training. Pre-solo training will take you from your first LAX_TWR session to be authorized to work LAX_TWR during non-peak hours. Post-solo training will train you for the LAX_TWR OTS exam.

Pre-Solo tower training is done with live traffic normally at LAX_TWR. Once you meet the requirements of the ZLA Tower PTS you will be given a non-peak solo endorsement. This normally takes 2-5 sessions.

Once you receive this endorsement you may work the following positions:

- Any ZLA tower during non-peak period.

Once you receive the non-peak solo you should work as much tower traffic as time allows between your sessions. Sessions on LAX_TWR during non-peak times when solo are commonly referred to as Self Monitored Training (SMT). During your SMT you will continue to work sessions with training staff towards your LAX_TWR OTS (level 4 training). Generally 3-5 sessions after receiving your off-peak solo endorsement you will be given an OTS recommendation. This means that the ZLA training staff feels that you are ready for the LAX_TWR OTS. This OTS is the last step in becoming a ZLA certified tower controller.

The LAX_TWR OTS is the first formal controlling exam that you will undertake. This exam will be scheduled ahead of time (up to a week), and advertised to the general VATSIM community to gather traffic. This session will also be done by a certified ZLA instructor as opposed to any ZLA training staff member. This OTS is graded to the standards in the ZLA tower PTS.

This session is treated not as training, but as an evaluation. The instructor will ask questions and monitor your controlling. This session requires heavy traffic loads and can be considered your final exam on tower.

Successfully passing this OTS is a big accomplishment and allows you to work any tower at ZLA during any time. It also completes step 2 in becoming a fully certified ZLA controller. It can take anywhere from 1 month to 1 year to complete this phase of training.

Step 3: From Tower to the end.

The remainder of ZLA training can be summarized in the following list of milestones to receive.

ZLA Approach Training:

- Pass the ZLA Approach Exam (similar to the ZLA tower exam)
- Receive a solo non-peak approach certification at the approach of your choice (normally SAN_APP).
- Pass the VATUSA S3 examination and be promoted to S3.
- Pass a formal OTS at any approach sector (normally SAN_APP)
- Receive training at LAS_APP followed by a formal OTS
- Receive training at LAX_APP and Departure (socal combined approach) followed by a formal OTS

ZLA Center Training:

- Pass the ZLA Center Exam (similar to the approach exam)
- Receive training at LAX_CTR followed by a formal OTS
- Pass the VATUSA C1 examination and be promoted to C1

Your LAX_CTR formal OTS is normally your last training session at ZLA. Once passed you are a full ZLA controller who can work any position. It generally takes 1.5-3 years from first session to center certification.