The Air Traffic Services and Communication (ATS/COM) School, at the inception of the College in 1964 started with two (2) training departments, namely:  General ATS and Communication Departments.  It was later expanded to four (4) departments and a maintenance unit when the Area/Airways and the Radar Departments were created in 1984 and 1990 respectively.

The School has the primary responsibility of training Air Traffic Controllers and other related professionals for the aviation industry in Nigeria as well as interested users in Nigeria and other countries.

Organisational Structure
The School is headed by a Chief Instructor while the four (4) training departments and the maintenance unit are each headed by a Principal or Senior Instructor and an Engineer respectively.

General Air Traffic Services Department
This department is responsible for the training of Air Traffic Controllers for Aerodrome (Tower) and Approach Control. It also trains students in Aviation English Language for non-English speaking Air Traffic controllers.

Communication Department
This department is responsible for training on ground-to-air and ground-to-ground communication. The procedures include radiotelephony, Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) switching system and wireless telegraphy.

Radar Department
This department offers training to Air Traffic Controllers on Terminal and Approach Radar Control within control airspaces.

Area/Airways Department
The department trains Area Controllers on Area Control Procedures along air corridors. It is also engaged in the training of Aeronautical Information Service Officers responsible for the gathering and dissemination of aeronautical information, Aviation Security and General Aviation Operation courses.  

Each department is staffed with trained and seasoned instructors having a wealth of experience comparable with Instructors in any similar institution in the world.

Training Programme
The School has quite a number of courses listed on its training program. These courses have been conducted several times with regular reviews as dictated by changes in the industry.

Some of the courses conducted in the school lead to the award of the College’s Diploma on successful completion, while others are certificate courses. New courses introduced in 2005 are:-

CNS/ATM Concept and Operations
Designed to meet one of the requirements for the implementation of CNS/ATM, the training program will update participants in the provision of vertical separation between aircraft and in particular, highlight the requirements for and the application of reduced vertical separation minima aimed towards effective management of the airspace.

Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM)
This is a new concept in Air Traffic Management (ATM) using satellite-based systems for Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS). The training will bring to light the need for the ATM system, its benefits, implementation, requirements and procedures.

Search and Rescue Mission Co-ordination (SARMC)
This is designed to equip personnel at the rescue co-ordination centre for effective discharge of their responsibilities. The training will among other things, highlight determination of search areas (sea and land), allocation of SAR resources and management of SAR operatives.

Aviation Security Management (AVSEC. M.)

The program is aimed at providing additional information to AVSEC personnel at supervisory levels as well as to inform directing or management staff in the industry of recent AVSEC developments and their implications on the system.
Airline Security Programme

This program will provide security awareness and training opportunities for airlines operating within and into the Country and draw their attention to the need to comply with international requirements as stated in Annex 17, Doc.8973 and IATA security manual.

Instructors Currency
All Instructors in the school hold current licenses which are valid for their last aerodrome of posting before joining the College. This is achieved by programming the instructors for revalidation at those aerodromes on regular basis while instructors in other fields within the school are made to undergo regular field attachments, seminars and workshops to update their knowledge.

Projections
Within the next two years, the School expects to have in place, a six-position PC based Radar Simulator, a 360 degrees Visual Tower Simulator and an AFTN message switching system capable of sitting a class of 20 participants. With these equipment in place, the School will be in the position to offer more training programmes both for local and international participants.

The school also hopes in the nearest future to work in affiliation with Nigerian Universities to run graduate Air Traffic Control programmes as it is done in some other parts of the world. The major advantage of these programmes are that they ensure longer service periods for controllers before retirement and help to build a reservoir of experience that the nation can depend on in times of need.