Building a strong foundation in aviation terminology is essential for air traffic controllers (ATCOs), who rely on precise and standardized language to manage flights safely and efficiently.
To make this training more effective, we can apply two powerful approaches from modern aviation education: Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) and Evidence-Based Training (EBT).
Instead of simply teaching lists of aviation terms, CBTA helps us focus on the real-world skills ATCOs need to use those terms effectively. In a CBTA-style course, learners don’t just memorize vocabulary — they practice using it in realistic situations, such as managing traffic during heavy congestion or communicating during a runway incursion. The goal is to build competence, not just familiarity. Learners are assessed based on how well they apply terminology in live or simulated communication, including clarity, accuracy, and appropriate phraseology use.
Meanwhile, EBT encourages instructors to prioritize high-risk or high-frequency scenarios, drawn from real operational data and safety reports. For example, if miscommunication during taxi instructions has led to several incidents, then taxi-related terminology and phraseology should be emphasized in the training program. This ensures learners are trained to handle the types of situations they’re most likely to face — especially those where the risk is highest.
A terminology course designed using CBTA and EBT might include the following:
- Scenario-based role-plays using standard ICAO phraseology.
- Simulation drills that require correct terminology in emergency or time-critical contexts.
- Error-spotting exercises, where learners identify incorrect or ambiguous use of terms.
- Debriefing and feedback focused on how effectively terminology was applied under pressure.
Assessments would focus on practical use rather than written tests, with learners evaluated on how, confidently, and correctly they use terminology in a realistic ATC environment.
In this way, CBTA and EBT allow us to go beyond the textbook, building a terminology training program that’s relevant, responsive, and truly effective — helping ATCOs become more confident communicators and safer professionals in the skies.
