Air traffic controllers at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago are given on-the-job training by

(2 Apr 2008) EM4917
HEADLINE: Video game helps train air traffic controllers
CAPTION: Air traffic controllers at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago are given on-the-job training by handling real-life scenarios simulated by a video game. The FAA plans to install video training rooms at 19 more airports. (April 2) 2008
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[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
Nats of air traffic controller
IT'S LIKE LISTENING TO AN AUCTIONEER
Nats of air traffic controller.
WHO'S GIVING AWAY SPACE
Nats of plastic slides
IN THE SKY
Nats of air traffic controller
AND ON THE GROUND.
(video of planes at O'Hare)
O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS THE SECOND BUSIEST PASSENGER AIRPORT IN THE WORLD AND MIGHT BE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST ASSIGNMENTS FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.
Tim Fitzgerald/FAA Air Traffic Controller
"As you can well imagine there is very few times during a given shift at O'Hare when traffic is very low."
(video of controllers and video of real planes)
IN THE PAST, NEW CONTROLLERS TRAINING AT O'HARE JUMPED RIGHT INTO THE MIX AND PRACTICED WITH REAL AIR TRAFFIC.
WHEN THE TRAINEE GOT BEHIND SO DID THE PLANES CAUSING DELAYS FOR PASSENGERS.
(video of simulator)
NOW O'HARE TRAINEES ARE PRACTICING ON THIS VIDEO GAME LIKE SIMULATOR.
Tim Fitzgerald/FAA Air Traffic Controller
"Where as here we can say, stop the problem, all right let's talk about that for a minute. See what you did by doing this, you made this decision. Because of that decision it turned into this and now we have a problem here."
(video of simulator)
ONLY 4 AIRPORTS INCLUDING O'HARE HAD ACCESS TO A SIMULATOR LIKE THIS ONE.
NOW THE FAA IS INSTALLING THESE VIDEO TRAINING ROOMS AT 19 MORE AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
(video of air traffic controllers)
OVER THE NEXT DECADE, THE FAA SAYS IT WILL HIRE AND TRAIN MORE THAN 15,000 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS TO REPLACE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE EXPECTED TO RETIRE.
SO THE NEED FOR FASTER REALISTIC TRAINING IS PARAMOUNT.
Tim Fitzgerald/FAA Air Traffic Controller
"This will help us, hopefully, reduce that overall training time and to be able to get people through quicker."
(video of snowy O'Hare)
TRAINEES NO LONGER HAVE TO WAIT ON MOTHER NATURE TO CREATE BAD WEATHER FOR TRAINING PURPOSES.
(video of snowy simulator)
INSTRUCTORS CAN TURN ON THE WINTER WEATHER AT ANY TIME CREATING THE WORST POSSIBLE SENARIOS.
(video of simulator)
THE FAA EXPECTS THESE SIMULATORS WILL REDUCE 1/3 OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AND MAKE THEM BETTER PREPARED BY THE TIME THEY STEP FOOT IN THE REAL CONTROL TOWER.
MARK CARLSON, AP, CHICAGO O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
STORYLINE
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