The EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) announced the appointment of Denmark-based GATE Aviation Training as its new student air traffic controller (ATCO) training provider. The agreement will see GATE provide initial training to MUAC’s student ATCOs at its modern academy located near Copenhagen Airport for up to a seven-year period.
“We are delighted to partner with GATE Aviation Training to provide initial training to our new student ATCOs. With its proven track record in delivering customised training solutions for complex upper airspace environments, GATE is the ideal partner to support our commitment to operational excellence. This partnership will allow us to maintain a full complement of controllers into the future ensuring we are best placed to embrace the challenges that increasing traffic levels will bring in the years ahead,” said Peggy Devestel, Director of the EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC).
Over the course of the agreement, over 110 students are expected to participate in the training programme that has been designed to equip the next generation of MUAC ATCOs with the required skills, knowledge and technical capabilities.
“We are honoured to partner with MUAC to collaborate on ATC Ab-initio training. MUAC is widely recognised for its rigorous training standards, and through this partnership, MUAC will benefit from GATE’s innovative, dynamic and approach to delivering customised training solutions. I am particularly proud of the way MUAC and GATE have engaged with one another. In a short period of time, we have established an open and constructive dialogue, aligning expectations with mutual professionalism and respect. I am confident that this collaboration will foster new and impactful initiatives in the field of ATC training,” said Dirch Jans, Chief Executive Officer of GATE Aviation Training.
Tailored to MUAC’s specific requirements, GATE’s initial training programme delivers a powerful combination of foundational excellence and advanced specialisation. The programme includes two key courses: a comprehensive Basic Training module, which provides the fundamental knowledge and skills related to the role of an air traffic controller, followed by an Area Control Surveillance (ACS) rating course, designed to develop the high-level competencies, performance skills and analytic skills required for MUAC’s complex upper airspace.
The first group of ATCO students from MUAC are scheduled to commence training at the GATE academy in July 2025. They will benefit from GATE’s state-of-the-art facilities including access to high-fidelity simulators, innovative training methodologies and 24/7 self-training opportunities as well as modern accommodation, psychological support and industry familiarisation visits.
