We are pleased to announce the release of our AFIS and Air/Ground Moodle course. This course is designed for members that want to try their hand at something a little different from your average aerodrome. These aerodromes are a hotspot for light and VFR traffic and often aren't large enough (to the relief of many) for the big tin. A big thank you to Callum Presley and Alex Hodgkinson for creating the course and also to Sebastian Wheeler and Ollie Latham for reviewing and adding the exam questions. All S2 rated members are welcome to log on AFIS and Air/Ground positions at any time. Similarly, controllers of all ratings are able to self-enrol on and view the Moodle course.

As always, the callsigns use the following format:

AFIS: EGXX_I_TWR

Air/Ground: EGXX_R_TWR

The type of service at each aerodrome is published on the aerodrome charts.

Didn't We Just Have A Long Forum Discussion About S1's?

As originally suggested by Richard Williams a few weeks ago, we are now opening up AFIS and Air Ground positions to our S1 rated controllers (with a caveat, see below). In doing this, we believe that we'll be able to give S1's a chance to start thinking and planning over a wider area and practise some skills ready for their S2 training - such as Traffic Information, Wake Information and Basic Services. We're also keen to give S1's a chance to try something different and we can allow S1s to do this without taking mentoring resources away from elsewhere through Moodle.

This new policy for S1's will be enforced in the form of an informal endorsement process. As follows:

1. In order to be eligible to take the Moodle exam, the member must have acquired a total of 50 hours controlling on ground and delivery positions in the UK.
2. Once the hour requirement is met, the member submits a ticket to the helpdesk asking to be enrolled in the Moodle exam
3. The member must pass the exam at the end of the Moodle course and informs the training department that they have passed
4. The endorsement is then granted

We decided to do it this way for the following reasons:

• Competencies such as traffic information are only mentored practically at an S2 level, so we need some form of check (Moodle) to ensure that the member has read and understood the material.
• Controlling ground and delivery at the members chosen training aerodrome is somewhat more conducive to preparing for S2 training.
• We wanted the hour requirement to be different to the requirement for a Gatwick Ground validation, to allow members that are interested in both to focus on one thing at a time.

The only official list of S1 rated members endorsed on AFIS and A/G positions may be found on the CTS. S1 rated members should indicate in their controller info that they are validated on AFIS and A/G positions when logging on to these positions.

In order to put scope on the validations, we have restricted the positions on which S1's may exercise it. This is based on the AIP and airfields for which documentation and charts are available. This list may be expanded,  if demand is high. The list is as follows:

• Andrewsfield (EGSL)
• Bedford (EGBF)
• Blackbushe (EGLK)
• Chichester Goodwood (EGHR)
• Coventry (EGBE)
• Cumbernauld (EGPG)
• Dunkeswell (EGTU)
• Duxford (EGSU)
• Elstree (EGTR)
• Fairoaks (EGTF)
• Gamston (EGNE)
• Haverfordwest  (EGFE)
• Kemble (EGBP)
• Manchester Barton (EGCB)
• OId Sarum (EGLS)
• Rochester (EGTO)
• Stapleford (EGSG)
• Swansea (EGFH)
• Thruxton (EGHO)

As always, if you receive a service from once of these aerodromes, please provide feedback on Core, so we can pass it on to our students.