Narrative:

The management at the ZBW has arbitrarily disallowed ATC's to participate in familiarization/liaison training in private GA aircraft. The FAA order 7210.3M clearly states that it is allowed. Management of this facility keeps a record of currently qualified pilots at the watch desk to use in case of emergencys. (Example: lost aircraft, VFR in IFR condition, etc). Previously to their decision to ban training in private aircraft I would conduct training with other controllers specifically to cover these emergency sits. Being able to conduct this training 3 to 5 times a yr left me prepared to handle emergency situation in small aircraft when and if they developed. I feel that their ban on training is jeopardizing safety to the flying public. There have been several incidents in which pilot/controllers have assisted in emergencys and helped to accomplish a safe outcome. It seems that this invaluable training program has been discontinued at this facility due to personal reasons. Some mgrs seem to discriminate against pilots and training in GA aircraft. I have not been allowed to train in GA aircraft since march 1996. At this time I do not feel as capable or qualified to assist in an emergency. If some mgrs would leave their personal feeling aside and look at the training value this serious safety concern could be resolved.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARTCC RADAR CTLR COMPLAINT THAT THE FACILITY MGMNT HAS DECIDED NOT TO ALLOW CTLRS TO TAKE FAMILIARIZATION FLTS IN PVT GA ACFT.

Narrative: THE MGMNT AT THE ZBW HAS ARBITRARILY DISALLOWED ATC'S TO PARTICIPATE IN FAMILIARIZATION/LIAISON TRAINING IN PVT GA ACFT. THE FAA ORDER 7210.3M CLRLY STATES THAT IT IS ALLOWED. MGMNT OF THIS FACILITY KEEPS A RECORD OF CURRENTLY QUALIFIED PLTS AT THE WATCH DESK TO USE IN CASE OF EMERS. (EXAMPLE: LOST ACFT, VFR IN IFR CONDITION, ETC). PREVIOUSLY TO THEIR DECISION TO BAN TRAINING IN PVT ACFT I WOULD CONDUCT TRAINING WITH OTHER CTLRS SPECIFICALLY TO COVER THESE EMER SITS. BEING ABLE TO CONDUCT THIS TRAINING 3 TO 5 TIMES A YR LEFT ME PREPARED TO HANDLE EMER SIT IN SMALL ACFT WHEN AND IF THEY DEVELOPED. I FEEL THAT THEIR BAN ON TRAINING IS JEOPARDIZING SAFETY TO THE FLYING PUBLIC. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN WHICH PLT/CTLRS HAVE ASSISTED IN EMERS AND HELPED TO ACCOMPLISH A SAFE OUTCOME. IT SEEMS THAT THIS INVALUABLE TRAINING PROGRAM HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AT THIS FACILITY DUE TO PERSONAL REASONS. SOME MGRS SEEM TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PLTS AND TRAINING IN GA ACFT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO TRAIN IN GA ACFT SINCE MARCH 1996. AT THIS TIME I DO NOT FEEL AS CAPABLE OR QUALIFIED TO ASSIST IN AN EMER. IF SOME MGRS WOULD LEAVE THEIR PERSONAL FEELING ASIDE AND LOOK AT THE TRAINING VALUE THIS SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN COULD BE RESOLVED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.