Dan Luke wrote:

Do they have similar requirements in the US, too?

I believe not. There was a familiarization program whereby controllers
could, at their option, take jumpseat rides on airline flights, but I
don't know if it is still allowed after 9/11.

At an AOPA seminar a while back, they played a recording of someone that had
experienced a vacuum failure in IMC (this recording might too be available
somewhere on the 'net). It included the dialog between the controller to
whom the pilot was speaking and another controller (or perhaps a facility
manager or some such).

The controller to whom the pilot was speaking was obviously completely
unaware of the nature - of the seriousness - of the failure. It was as if
the pilot were unable to keep his aircraft clean because of the lack of a
vacuum.

But the recording's "lesson" was that we as pilots need to be completely
clear with controllers. Don't assume, for example, that they're familiar
with aircraft failure modes. If you've lost instruments, say that you've
lost intruments (and which!). This may still not be completely understood,
but it should at least sound more serious than "vacuum failure" to someone
that thinks a vacuum is only a household appliance.

- Andrew