Three Studies of Biographical Factors Associated with Success in Air Traffic Control Specialist Screening/Training at the FAA Academy.

摘要

The current Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) selection procedure requires that all applicants pass the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) air traffic control aptitude test. In addition to the test scores, applicants may also receive points for certain types of aviation-related prior experience or substitute college-level education in lieu of general experience requirements. The Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) has had a long-standing involvement in efforts to update and improve ATCS students are given an opportunity to voluntarily take a battery of research tests upon arrival at the FAA Academy for basic training. Included in this battery is a Biographical Questionnaire (BQ) designed to elicit responses about background experiences, including high school education and activities, college education, military experience, and pre-FAA ATC experience. Aftera new pass/fail training program was implemented at the Academy in 1976, biographical data on trainees were examined to determine the relationship between biographical variables and Academy success rates. A new set of 21 questions was added to the BQ in May 1980, and responses to the revised BQ were analyzed to determine the underlying factor structure of the questionnaire and the relationship of those factors to success or failure at the Academy. Further research examined the relationship between various types of military experience and performance at the Academy.