---
title: "AMC1 ATCO.D.010(a)(2)(v) Composition of initial training – Area control surveillance rating (ACS) training — INITIAL TRAINING CONTENT, ATCO — COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2015/340 — extract 7 · Avioverse"
description: "SUBJECT 7: HUMAN FACTORS The subject objective is: Learners shall recognise the necessity to constantly extend their knowledge and analyse factors which…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/atco/initial-training-content/commission-regulation-eu-2015-340/amc1-atco-d-010-a-2-v-8"
---

# AMC1 ATCO.D.010(a)(2)(v) Composition of initial training – Area control surveillance rating (ACS) training

INITIAL TRAINING CONTENT · Regulation (EU) 2015/340 · EAR revision 14 Jun 2024

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC1 ATCO.D.010(a)(2)(v) Composition of initial training – Area control surveillance rating (ACS) training

SUBJECT 7: HUMAN FACTORS

The subject objective is:

Learners shall recognise the necessity to constantly extend their knowledge and analyse factors which affect personal and team performance.

\[applicable until 3 August 2024 - ED Decision 2019/023/R]

| TOPIC HUM 1 — PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS |                                                                                |   |                                                                                                                   |     |
| ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 1.1 — Cognitive        |                                                                                |   |                                                                                                                   |     |
| ACS HUM 1.1.1                       | Describe the human information-processing model.                               | 2 | Attention, perception, memory, situational awareness, decision-making, response                                   | ALL |
| ACS HUM 1.1.2                       | Describe the factors which influence human information-processing.             | 2 | Confidence, stress, learning, knowledge, experience, fatigue, alcohol/drugs, distraction, interpersonal relations | ALL |
| ACS HUM 1.1.3                       | Monitor the effect of human information-processing factors on decision-making. | 3 | Optional content: workload, stress, interpersonal relations, distraction, confidence                              | ALL |

\[applicable until 3 August 2024 - ED Decision 2019/023/R]

| TOPIC HUM 1 — INFORMATION PROCESSING                    |                                                                                         |   |                                                                                                                      |     |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 1.1 — Cognition and factors influencing it |                                                                                         |   |                                                                                                                      |     |
| ACS HUM 1.1.1                                           | Describe the human information-processing model.                                        | 2 | Attention, perception, memory, situational awareness, decision-making, response                                      | ALL |
| ACS HUM 1.1.2                                           | Describe the factors which influence human information-processing.                      | 2 | Confidence, stress, learning, knowledge, experience, fatigue, alcohol/drugs, distraction, interpersonal relations    | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 1.2 — Situational awareness                |                                                                                         |   |                                                                                                                      |     |
| ACS HUM 1.2.1                                           | Appreciate the effect of human information-processing factors on situational awareness. | 3 | Optional content: workload, knowledge, interpersonal relations, distraction, confidence, experience, fatigue, stress | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 1.3 — Decision-making                      |                                                                                         |   |                                                                                                                      |     |
| ACS HUM 1.3.1                                           | Appreciate the effect of human information-processing factors on decision-making.       | 3 | Optional content: workload, stress, interpersonal relations, distraction, confidence                                 | ALL |

\[applicable from 4 August 2024 - ED Decision 2023/011/R]

| TOPIC HUM 2 — MEDICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS |                                                            |   |                                                                                                                                                                                           |     |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 2.1 — Fatigue                      |                                                            |   |                                                                                                                                                                                           |     |
| ACS HUM 2.1.1                                   | State factors that cause fatigue.                          | 1 | Shift work Optional content: night shifts and rosters, Regulation (EU) 2017/373, ICAO/IFATCA/CANSO’s Fatigue Management Guide for Air Traffic Service Providers                           | ALL |
| ACS HUM 2.1.2                                   | Describe the onset of fatigue.                             | 2 | Regulation (EU) 2017/373 Optional content: lack of concentration, listlessness, irritability, frustration, ICAO/IFATCA/CANSO’s Fatigue Management Guide for Air Traffic Service Providers | ALL |
| ACS HUM 2.1.3                                   | Recognise the onset of fatigue in self.                    | 1 | Optional content: ICAO/IFATCA/CANSO’s Fatigue Management Guide for Air Traffic Service Providers                                                                                          | ALL |
| ACS HUM 2.1.4                                   | Recognise the onset of fatigue in others.                  | 1 |                                                                                                                                                                                           | ALL |
| ACS HUM 2.1.5                                   | Describe appropriate action when recognising fatigue.      | 2 |                                                                                                                                                                                           | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 2.2 — Fitness                      |                                                            |   |                                                                                                                                                                                           |     |
| ACS HUM 2.2.1                                   | Recognise signs of lack of personal fitness.               | 1 |                                                                                                                                                                                           | ALL |
| ACS HUM 2.2.2                                   | Describe actions when aware of a lack of personal fitness. | 2 |                                                                                                                                                                                           | ALL |

\[applicable until 3 August 2024 - ED Decision 2019/023/R]

| TOPIC HUM 2 — FACTORS AFFECTING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING |                                                                                  |   |                                                                                                                                                                               |     |
| ----------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 2.1 — Fatigue                            |                                                                                  |   |                                                                                                                                                                               |     |
| ACS HUM 2.1.1                                         | Describe the onset of fatigue.                                                   | 2 | Regulation (EU) 2017/373 Optional content: lack of concentration, listlessness, irritability, frustration, Skybrary Human Behaviour: EUROCONTROL Fatigue and sleep management | ALL |
| ACS HUM 2.1.2                                         | Recognise the onset of fatigue in self and in others.                            | 1 | Optional content: Skybrary Human Behaviour: EUROCONTROL Fatigue and sleep management                                                                                          | ALL |
| ACS HUM 2.1.3                                         | Describe the appropriate action when recognising fatigue.                        | 2 | Optional content: Skybrary Human Behaviour, EUROCONTROL Fatigue and sleep management                                                                                          | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 2.2 — Stress                             |                                                                                  |   |                                                                                                                                                                               |     |
| ACS HUM 2.2.1                                         | Recognise the effects of stress on human performance.                            | 1 | Stress and its symptoms in self and in others Optional content: Regulation (EU) 2017/373                                                                                      | ALL |
| ACS HUM 2.2.2                                         | Describe the appropriate action when recognising stress.                         | 2 |                                                                                                                                                                               | ALL |
| ACS HUM 2.2.3                                         | Act to reduce stress.                                                            | 3 |                                                                                                                                                                               | ALL |
| ACS HUM 2.2.4                                         | Respond to stressful situations by offering, asking for or accepting assistance. | 3 |                                                                                                                                                                               | ALL |
| ACS HUM 2.2.5                                         | Recognise the effect of stressful events.                                        | 1 | Self and others, abnormal situations                                                                                                                                          | ALL |

\[applicable from 4 August 2024 - ED Decision 2023/011/R]

| TOPIC HUM 3 — SOCIAL AND ORGANISATIONAL FACTORS   |                                                             |   |                                                                                                                               |     |
| ------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 3.1 — Team resource management (TRM) |                                                             |   |                                                                                                                               |     |
| ACS HUM 3.1.1                                     | State the relevance of TRM.                                 | 1 | Optional content: TRM course, EUROCONTROL Guidelines for the development of TRM training                                      | ALL |
| ACS HUM 3.1.2                                     | State the content of the TRM concept.                       | 1 | Optional content: teamwork, human error, team roles, stress, decision-making, communication, situational awareness            | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 3.2 — Teamwork and team roles        |                                                             |   |                                                                                                                               |     |
| ACS HUM 3.2.1                                     | Identify reasons for conflict.                              | 3 |                                                                                                                               | ALL |
| ACS HUM 3.2.2                                     | Describe actions to prevent human conflicts.                | 2 | Optional content: TRM team roles                                                                                              | ALL |
| ACS HUM 3.2.3                                     | Describe strategies to cope with human conflicts.           | 2 | Optional content: in your team, in the [simulator](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/simulator)                            | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 3.3 — Responsible behaviour          |                                                             |   |                                                                                                                               |     |
| ACS HUM 3.3.1                                     | Consider the factors which influence responsible behaviour. | 2 | Optional content: situation, team, personal situation and judgement, instance of justification, moral motivation, personality | ALL |
| ACS HUM 3.3.2                                     | Apply responsible judgement.                                | 3 | Case study and discussion about a dilemma situation                                                                           | ALL |

\[applicable until 3 August 2024 - ED Decision 2019/023/R]

| TOPIC HUM 3 — THREAT AND ERROR MANAGEMENT                     |                                                                |   |                                                                                                                                                                     |     |
| ------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 3.1 — Threat and error management framework      |                                                                |   |                                                                                                                                                                     |     |
| ACS HUM 3.1.1                                                 | Explain the importance of threat and error management.         | 2 | Optional content: prevention of incidents, safety improvement, revision of procedures and/or working practices                                                      | ALL |
| ACS HUM 3.1.2                                                 | Explain the threat and error management framework.             | 2 | Threats, errors, undesired states, countermeasures Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control            | ALL |
| ACS HUM 3.1.3                                                 | Differentiate between the different types of threats in ATC.   | 2 | Internal, external, airborne, environmental Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control                   | ALL |
| ACS HUM 3.1.4                                                 | Differentiate between the different types of errors in ATC.    | 2 | Equipment, procedural, communication Optional content: increase in traffic, changes in procedures, complexities of systems or traffic, weather, unusual occurrences | ALL |
| ACS HUM 3.1.5                                                 | Differentiate between the different types of undesired states. | 2 | On the ground, airborne Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control                                       | ALL |
| ACS HUM 3.1.6                                                 | Analyse examples of threat and error management in ATC.        | 4 | Case studies Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control                                                  | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 3.2 — Application of threat and error management |                                                                |   |                                                                                                                                                                     |     |
| ACS HUM 3.2.1                                                 | Manage threats.                                                | 3 | Detect and respond Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control                                            | ALL |
| ACS HUM 3.2.2                                                 | Manage errors.                                                 | 2 | Detect and respond Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control                                            | ALL |
| ACS HUM 3.2.3                                                 | Manage undesired states.                                       | 2 | Detect and respond Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control                                            | ALL |

\[applicable from 4 August 2024 - ED Decision 2023/011/R]

| TOPIC HUM 4 — STRESS                 |                                                                              |   |                                                                                                                                                   |     |
| ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 4.1 — Stress            |                                                                              |   |                                                                                                                                                   |     |
| ACS HUM 4.1.1                        | Recognise the effects of stress on performance.                              | 1 | Stress and its symptoms in self and in others Optional content: Regulation (EU) 2017/373                                                          | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 4.2 — Stress management |                                                                              |   |                                                                                                                                                   |     |
| ACS HUM 4.2.1                        | Act to reduce stress.                                                        | 3 | The effect of personality in coping with stress, the benefits of active stress management                                                         | ALL |
| ACS HUM 4.2.2                        | Respond to stressful situations by offering, asking or accepting assistance. | 3 | Optional content: the benefits of offering, accepting and asking for help in stressful situations                                                 | ALL |
| ACS HUM 4.2.3                        | Recognise the effect of shocking and stressful events.                       | 1 | Self and others, abnormal situations, [Critical Incident Stress](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/critical-incident-stress) Management (CISM) | ALL |
| ACS HUM 4.2.4                        | Consider the benefits of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM).         | 2 |                                                                                                                                                   | ALL |
| ACS HUM 4.2.5                        | Explain procedures to be used following an incident/accident.                | 2 | Optional content: CISM, counselling, human element                                                                                                | ALL |

\[applicable until 3 August 2024 - ED Decision 2019/023/R]

| TOPIC HUM 4 — TEAMWORK                  |                                                                        |   |                                                                                                         |     |
| --------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 4.1 — Benefits of teamwork |                                                                        |   |                                                                                                         |     |
| ACS HUM 4.1.1                           | State the benefits of teamwork.                                        | 1 | Increased safety, efficiency and capacity                                                               | ALL |
| ACS HUM 4.1.2                           | List the controller’s human performance elements affected by teamwork. | 1 | Situational awareness, communication, decision-making, threat and error management, workload management | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 4.2 — Conflict management  |                                                                        |   |                                                                                                         |     |
| ACS HUM 4.2.1                           | Identify the reasons for conflict.                                     | 3 |                                                                                                         | ALL |
| ACS HUM 4.2.2                           | Describe strategies to cope with human conflicts.                      | 2 | Optional content: in your team, in the simulator                                                        | ALL |
| ACS HUM 4.2.3                           | Describe actions to prevent human conflicts.                           | 2 |                                                                                                         | ALL |

\[applicable from 4 August 2024 - ED Decision 2023/011/R]

| TOPIC HUM 5 — HUMAN ERROR             |                                                                                       |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                  |     |
| ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 5.1 — Human error        |                                                                                       |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                  |     |
| ACS HUM 5.1.1                         | Explain the relationship between error and safety.                                    | 2 | Number and combination of errors, proactive versus reactive approach to discovery of error Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control | ALL |
| ACS HUM 5.1.2                         | Differentiate between the types of error.                                             | 2 | Slips, lapses, mistakes Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control                                                                    | ALL |
| ACS HUM 5.1.3                         | Describe error-prone conditions.                                                      | 2 | Optional content: increase in traffic, changes in procedures, complexities of systems or traffic, weather, unusual occurrences                                                                   | ALL |
| ACS HUM 5.1.4                         | Collect examples of different error types, their causes and consequences for ATC.     | 3 | Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control                                                                                            | ALL |
| ACS HUM 5.1.5                         | Explain how to detect errors to compensate for them.                                  | 2 | STCA, MSAW, individual and collective strategy Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control                                             | ALL |
| ACS HUM 5.1.6                         | Execute corrective actions.                                                           | 3 | Error compensation Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control                                                                         | ALL |
| ACS HUM 5.1.7                         | Explain the importance of error management.                                           | 2 | Optional content: prevention of incidents, safety improvement, revision of procedures and/or working practices                                                                                   | ALL |
| ACS HUM 5.1.8                         | Describe the impact on an ATCO’s performance following an occurrence/incident.        | 2 | Optional content: reporting, SMS, [investigation](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/investigation), CISM                                                                                      | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 5.2 — Violation of rules |                                                                                       |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                  |     |
| ACS HUM 5.2.1                         | Explain the causes and dangers of violation of rules becoming accepted as a practice. | 2 | Optional content: ICAO Circular 314 — AN/178 Threat and Error Management (TEM) in Air Traffic Control                                                                                            | ALL |

\[applicable until 3 August 2024 - ED Decision 2019/023/R]

| TOPIC HUM 5 — SYSTEMS                            |                                                                          |   |                                                                                                               |     |
| ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 5.1 — Concept of systems in ATM/ANS |                                                                          |   |                                                                                                               |     |
| ACS HUM 5.1.1                                    | Explain the concept of systems.                                          | 2 | People; procedures; equipment; ATM in system terms: simple, complicated, and complex systems; system thinking | ALL |
| ACS HUM 5.1.2                                    | Describe how changes in one part of a system may impact the other parts. | 2 |                                                                                                               | ALL |
| ACS HUM 5.1.3                                    | Describe the role of the human in the system.                            | 2 |                                                                                                               | ALL |

\[applicable from 4 August 2024 - ED Decision 2023/011/R]

| TOPIC HUM 6 — COLLABORATIVE WORK                                                |                                                                                                                                                             |   |                                                                                      |     |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 6.1 — Communication                                                |                                                                                                                                                             |   |                                                                                      |     |
| ACS HUM 6.1.1                                                                   | Use communication effectively in ATC.                                                                                                                       | 3 |                                                                                      | ALL |
| ACS HUM 6.1.2                                                                   | Analyse examples of pilot–controller communication for effectiveness.                                                                                       | 4 |                                                                                      | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 6.2 — Collaborative work within the same area of responsibility    |                                                                                                                                                             |   |                                                                                      |     |
| ACS HUM 6.2.1                                                                   | List communication means between controllers in charge of the same area of responsibility ([sector](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/sector) or tower). | 1 | Optional content: electronic, written, verbal and non-verbal communication           | ALL |
| ACS HUM 6.2.2                                                                   | Explain consequences of the use of communication means on effectiveness.                                                                                    | 2 | Optional content: strip legibility and encoding, label designation, feedback         | ALL |
| ACS HUM 6.2.3                                                                   | List possible actions to provide a safe position handover.                                                                                                  | 1 | Optional content: rigour, preparation, overlap time                                  | ALL |
| ACS HUM 6.2.4                                                                   | Explain consequences of a missed position handover process.                                                                                                 | 2 |                                                                                      | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 6.3 — Collaborative work between different areas of responsibility |                                                                                                                                                             |   |                                                                                      |     |
| ACS HUM 6.3.1                                                                   | List factors and means for an effective coordination between sectors and/or tower positions.                                                                | 1 | Optional content: other sectors’ constraints, electronic coordination tools          | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 6.4 — Controller–pilot cooperation                                 |                                                                                                                                                             |   |                                                                                      |     |
| ACS HUM 6.4.1                                                                   | Describe parameters affecting controller–pilot cooperation.                                                                                                 | 2 | Optional content: workload, mutual knowledge, controller versus pilot mental picture | ALL |

\[applicable until 3 August 2024 - ED Decision 2019/023/R]

| TOPIC HUM 6 — COMMUNICATION           |                                                                                           |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |     |
| ------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- |
| Subtopic HUM 6.1 — Communication      |                                                                                           |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |     |
| ACS HUM 6.1.1                         | Explain effective communication in ATC operations.                                        | 2 | ICAO Doc 9868                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | ALL |
| ACS HUM 6.1.2                         | Explain key strategies used to enable open communication.                                 | 2 | Optional content: active listening, active speaking, assertiveness, honesty, relevance, facts, neutrality                                                                                                                                      | ALL |
| ACS HUM 6.1.3                         | Describe the parameters affecting the controller’s competence to communicate effectively. | 2 | Workload, mutual knowledge, controller versus pilot mental picture, distractions, sound, human conflicts Optional content: communication between and within the team(s), in the simulator, with the pilots, instructors, coordination partners | ALL |
| Subtopic HUM 6.2 — Effective feedback |                                                                                           |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |     |
| ACS HUM 6.2.1                         | Define feedback.                                                                          | 1 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | ALL |
| ACS HUM 6.2.2                         | Explain the purpose of receiving and giving feedback and its effect on performance.       | 2 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | ALL |
| ACS HUM 6.2.3                         | Consider the impact of communication styles on feedback and on conflict resolution.       | 2 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | ALL |
| ACS HUM 6.2.4                         | Integrate feedback into performance.                                                      | 4 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | ALL |

\[applicable from 4 August 2024 - ED Decision 2023/011/R]

AMC · AMC1 ATCO.D.010(a)(2)(v) — Regulation (EU) 2015/340 · ED Decision 2023/011/R · ATCO Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 14 Jun 2024

[All rules in COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2015/340](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/atco/initial-training-content/commission-regulation-eu-2015-340)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 14 Jun 2024, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.
