A study of the proficiency and performance of Iranian Air Traffic Controllers: attitude, work experience and specific aviation English courses

This study is an exploratory study, which was conducted in relation to the study of the proficiency and performance of Iranian Air Traffic Controllers: attitude, work experience, and specific Aviation English courses. Few studies have been conducted in this field. The Aviation English Courses in Iran are very similar to Content-Based Language Training (CBLT) courses. To this end, the participants were 278 Iranian ATCOs who were selected from 1000 Iranian ATCOs based on Cochran formula. The instrument was designed by the European organization for the safety of air navigation. For data to be analyzed in this study, software SPSS 24.0, AMOS 23.0, structural equation model (SEM), path analysis model, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) have been used. According to the main findings of this research based on its research hypotheses, firstly, the Iranian ATCOs’ performance had a significant positive effect on proficiency. But in the effect of performance on proficiency, work experience did not have a positive moderating role and passing CBLT courses had a positive moderating role. Secondly, Iranian ATCOs’ work experience and passing CBLT courses in the effect of attitude on proficiency had not a good mediator. The results of this research can be used to improve the aviation English training in Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company.