NTSB Issues Recurrence Recommendation ERA15FA099 to FAA for Controller Training

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a safety recommendation, designated as A-16-018 and referenced under ERA15FA099, addressed directly to the Federal Aviation Administration. This directive requires the FAA to develop and mandate recurrent national training programs for air traffic controllers. The NTSB specifies that this training must be created in collaboration with internal offices responsible for investigating aviation accidents and incidents, as well as organizations familiar with the challenges pilots face during emergencies. The core objective of this new requirement is to ensure controllers receive scenario-based instruction on identifying and responding to emergency situations. Specifically, the recommendation mandates that training programs instruct controllers on three critical areas: recognizing emergencies, determining what help is needed, and taking actions that assist pilots in safely resolving the situation.