SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Conduct ground controlled approaches of air traffic with the aid of radar 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
244192  Conduct ground controlled approaches of air traffic with the aid of radar 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Aerospace Operations 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences Physical Sciences 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  20 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A learner credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the use of radar in providing ground controlled approaches considering traffic combinations.
  • Accept control of air traffic.
  • Demonstrate understanding of ground controlled approach procedures.
  • Implement ground controlled approaches in accordance with prescribed radar procedures.
  • Hand over control of aircraft.
  • Implement ground controlled approach procedures. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Communication Level 4.
  • Mathematics Level 4.
  • Explain aviation legislation related to air traffic services Level 5.
  • Describe elementary aerodynamic principles of flight Level 5.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the inter-relationship between aircraft flight systems, aerodrome facilities and aeronautical navigation facilities Level 5.
  • Explain and demonstrate handling of emergencies in air traffic management Level 5. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Ground controlled approaches refer to circuit surveillance and final control. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the use of radar in providing ground controlled approaches considering traffic combinations. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Assessment must include circuit surveillance and final control. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Fundamentals and principles of radar are explained in terms of their impact on ground controlled approaches. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Personal requirements are explained in terms of providing radar control to multiple aircraft by means of ground controlled approaches. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Personal requirements include extended concentration, split attention, multiple calculations, handling multiple emergencies, reduced time for decision making.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Circumstances and factors of radar control techniques are described in terms of the desired outcome and flight conditions. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Circumstances and factors include flight rules, flight status, safety, tactical considerations and environmental conditions.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Accept control of air traffic. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Assessment must include circuit surveillance and final control. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Accepting of control includes radar and non-radar releases. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Aircraft are identified in terms of standard radar operating procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Identification includes but is not limited to position reports, altitude, manoeuvring, radar symbols.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Acceptance of control procedures are complied with in terms of radar operating procedures and techniques. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Aircraft progress is tracked in terms of radar position reports. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Radar position reports include but are not limited to geographical reference, navigational reference, levels, direction, call sign, aircraft type, radar symbols.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate understanding of ground controlled approach procedures. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Assessment must include circuit surveillance and final control. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Radar control techniques are considered in terms of their advantages and disadvantages in the provision of a radar service. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Techniques include but are not limited to separation standards, meteorological conditions, aircraft performance, radar coverage, airspace characteristics, traffic mix.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Potential emergency scenarios are assessed in terms of their impact on a given situation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Emergency scenarios include communication failure, engine failure, electrical failure, hydraulic failure, compass error/failure, airframe damage, armament malfunction, fuel transfer anomalies and mid air collisions.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Actions required to handle the emergency scenario are explained in terms of minimising the impact of the emergency. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Aircraft performance is planned for and evaluated in accordance with legal and operational requirements in the use of radar. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Requirements include but are not limited to required distances, declared distances, critical speeds, climb gradients, atmospheric conditions, weather conditions, visibility minima, aircraft mass, times of sunset and sunrise.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The reasons for maintaining calm and presence of mind while using radar is explained in relation to aviation safety. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Situational awareness when using radar is evaluated in terms of factors that may influence traffic management. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Implement ground controlled approaches in accordance with prescribed radar procedures. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Assessment must include circuit surveillance and final control. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Air traffic is controlled in accordance with standard operating radar procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Aircraft positions are ascertained and evaluated by means of radar in terms of their suitability within a given situation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Air traffic is controlled by means of radar in accordance with factors influencing the traffic scenario. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Factors influencing the traffic scenario include but are not limited to allocated airspace, meteorological conditions, traffic performances, traffic sequencing, flight rules, flight status.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Radar control and liaison communication is conducted in terms of prescribed radiotelephony procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Radar control and liaison information is recorded in terms of standard operating procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Actions to resolve emergencies with the aid of radar are conducted in terms of minimising the impact within a specific scenario. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Hand over control of aircraft. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Assessment must include circuit surveillance and final control. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Hand over of control includes radar and non-radar releases. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Controlled air traffic are handed over in accordance with standard radar operating procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Consequences of non-compliance with hand over procedures are explained in terms of aviation safety. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Radar control and liaison communication is conducted in terms of prescribed radiotelephony procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Implement ground controlled approach procedures. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Assessment must include circuit surveillance and final control. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Radar surveillance procedures are applied in terms of its use in a specific air traffic control scenario. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Radar separation minima are applied in a specific air traffic control scenario. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Radar is utilised in air traffic management. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Radar includes but is not limited to Primary Radar, Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR), Precision approach Radar (PAR).
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Ground Controlled Approach:
  • Provision of Ground Controlled Approach service.
  • Provision of Approach control service.
  • Responsibilities of approach GCA.
  • Responsibilities of approach control (TMA, CTR).
  • Co-ordination with other units.
  • Transfer of control and communications.
  • Co-ordination between GCA and Aerodrome/Approach Control.
  • Turbo prop and turbo jet aircraft operations.
  • Loss of communication procedures.
  • Procedures for arriving aircraft.
  • Information to arriving aircraft.
  • GCA sequence.
  • Types of approaches.
  • Direction finding.
  • Handling of Emergencies.
  • Introduction and Application of separation standards.
  • Provision of standard separation.
  • Increased separation.
  • Reduced separation.
  • Loss of separation.
  • Essential traffic information.
  • Types of separation.
  • Vertical separation application.
  • Vertical separation minima.
  • Arrival/Departure Separation.
  • Use of flight progress strips.
  • Abbreviations and symbols relevant to Approach control.
  • Scanning of flight progress strips.
  • Radio guard.
  • Speech technique.
  • RT callsigns for ATC units.
  • Aircraft callsigns.
  • The importance of RT discipline.
  • Communication with aircraft.
  • Callsign confusion.
  • Establishment of contact.
  • Continuation of communications.
  • Acknowledge and readback of transmissions.
  • Transfer of communications.
  • Emergency communication.
  • Distress communication.
  • Radio telephony procedures relevant to GCA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
  • Identify alternative methods for communicating/transmitting information when communication equipment failure is experienced.
  • Monitor the status of air traffic services facilities, identify and report facilities which have become unserviceable. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
  • All information is verified and confirmed prior to distribution. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
  • Maintain communication with Air Traffic Controllers and provide required information relevant to developing situations.
  • Prioritise and communicate information by order of importance.
  • All equipment breakdown/failure is immediately reported to appropriate personnel to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted flow of information. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
  • Computer systems are used correctly to process accurate flight data. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
  • Recognise the importance of providing efficient and effective support in an air traffic service environment. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A

    Abbreviations:
  • SSR: Secondary Surveillance Radar.
  • PAR: Precision approach Radar.
  • TMA: Terminal area.
  • CTR: Control zone.
  • GCA: Ground controlled approach.
  • RT: Radiotelephony.
  • ATC: Air traffic control. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  58579   National Diploma: Air Traffic Control  Level 6  NQF Level 06  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  TETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.