 |
MEDIA RELEASE 20 OCTOBER 2017 |
The faceless men and women who keep you safe– International Day of the Air Traffic Controller
You never hear them or see them, but Australia’s Air Traffic Controllers are the most highly trained, highly skilled controllers in the world. Today Civil Air, the industrial and professional association representing Australian ATCs, pays tribute to the dedicated men and women in our airport control towers and air traffic control centres on International Day of the Air Traffic Controller.
“Australia has the safest skies in the world. We have the most highly trained, highly skilled controllers. You might not notice them, but they’re with you on every flight, on every journey,” said Tom McRobert, President of Civil Air.
“Our record speaks for itself. These are professionals of the highest calibre.”
“More than 152 million passengers fly on domestic and international flights in Australia every year, on more than 4 million flights.”
“Controllers work at 2 major ATC Centres in Melbourne and Brisbane, two terminal control units at Sydney and Perth, and in 29 airport control towers around Australia, in our big cities and our country towns. They have incredible technical skills that are honed in a high-pressure environment.”
“Air Traffic Controllers go through an intensive selection process – involving cognitive testing, aptitude testing, personality testing and medical testing. When they graduate they do regular training that keep them up-to-date with technological advances.”
“Many Australians would not realise that we also take control of international airspace as well. We cover about 11 percent of the world’s total airspace including the airspace above the Solomon Islands and Nauru. We communicate directly with every plane that enters our airspace.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Peter McGuane on 1800 359 007
Civil Air is the association representing the professional, technical and industrial needs of Australian Air Traffic Controllers and Air Traffic Control Supporting Staff. |