ATCO.B.025 Unit 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);

(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;

(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);

(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 point ATCO.A.015(e);

(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]