Validity of the air traffic control specialist Nonradar Screen as a predictor of performance in radar-based air traffic control training.

Abstract

Abstract : Between January 1986 and March 1992, the Federal Aviation Administration's 42-day Nonradar Screen was used to identify Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) candidates with the highest potential to succeed in the rigorous ATCS field training program. The central question addressed in this study was whether or not the Nonradar Screen was a valid employee selection procedure in view of the prevalence of radar in today's air traffic control system. To answer that question, we investigated the Nonradar Screen's criterion-related validity as a predictor of subsequent performance in radar- based air traffic control training. We hypothesized that the Nonradar Screen would add incremental validity over aptitude test scores in predicting performance in radar-based air traffic control (ATC) training conducted at the FAA Academy 1 to 2 years after entry into the occupation. Student aptitude test scores and Nonradar Screen final composite scores were regressed on final composite scores earned in radar-based ATC training. Results showed that Nonradar Screen composite scores had incremental validity over the written ATCS aptitude test for predicting radar-based training scores in both en route (delta R(2) = .08, F(2,438) = 36.52, p < or = .001) and terminal (R(2) = .10, F(2,658) = 77.66, p < or = .001) radar training without correcting for range restriction due to explicit selection on the Nonradar Screen final composite score.