{"id":359139,"date":"2024-10-18T09:59:44","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T13:59:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/?post_type=features&p=359139"},"modified":"2024-10-18T10:57:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-18T14:57:47","slug":"nav-canada-uncovering-the-truth-behind-air-traffic-service-misconceptions","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/features\/nav-canada-uncovering-the-truth-behind-air-traffic-service-misconceptions\/","title":{"rendered":"Nav Canada: Uncovering the truth behind air traffic service misconceptions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The work of air traffic controllers and flight service specialists, also known as air traffic service professionals, is often shrouded in mystery and misconception.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many believe these professionals navigate a relentless, high-stakes environment, where a single mistake could lead to catastrophe.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others imagine their roles as increasingly automated, leaving little room for human input. In reality, the day-to-day experiences of air traffic services employees in Canada are far more nuanced. As the aviation industry evolves, so too does the nature of their work.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the top eight myths about what happens behind the radar screens, with the truth explained by the professionals who keep Canada\u2019s skies safe, courtesy of Nav Canada. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nav Canada Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Myth #1: Being an air traffic controller or flight service specialist is a stressful job<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the biggest misconceptions about our work is that it\u2019s super stressful. While there are stressful periods, overall the level of training we receive provides us with skills and abilities to make otherwise stressful events nearly routine. My short answer when people ask, \u2018isn’t it stressful all the time?\u2019 is, \u2018not if you’re good at it,\u2019 and we are.” There definitely are peaks and valleys in traffic volume and complexity or both. Quiet times still require attention, but it is a relaxing environment where friendly conversation on the floor fills the time. I’ve worked in many units, and they’re all quite similar in this regard,\u201d said Chris Wonnacott, air traffic controller based at Nav Canada\u2019s Moncton Area Control Centre.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nav Canada Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Myth #2: You need a lot of experience in the aviation industry to become an air traffic service professional<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the neat things about working in air traffic services is that, because the job itself is so highly specialized, Nav Canada provides all the required training from the ground up.\u202fYou don\u2019t need to have a degree or any experience in the aviation industry to apply and you earn a salary while you are learning what you need to learn to be successful.\u202fA high school diploma or equivalency is all that\u2019s required. Because of that, the sheer number of varied backgrounds and skill sets that my colleagues bring to the job is remarkable. There are engineers, scientists, truck drivers, carpenters, welders, chefs, photographers, race car drivers, sailors, medical professionals, military service members, professional football players, and the list goes on and on. In a zombie apocalypse thought experiment, the place I say I\u2019d always want to be is at work \u2013 we could handle any problem!\u201d said Kit Stardancer, unit procedures specialist based at Nav Canada\u2019s Toronto Area Control Centre \u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nav Canada Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Myth #3: All air traffic service professionals essentially do the same job<\/strong> 
 
\u201cIn a control tower, our primary goal is to safely move aircraft and vehicles around the airport, and manage airborne traffic within the control zone. In the bigger picture, we rely on our colleagues at the Flight Information Centres to provide weather briefings and help process NOTAMs and visual flight rules (VFR) flight plans, flight service specialists to <\/strong>deliver advisory services and serve as a key communications link between pilots, airlines, and other Nav Canada teams, air traffic operations specialists (ATOS) to ensure accuracy in instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plans, and Terminal controllers to coordinate with us for arriving and departing IFR flights. Each of us has a specialized role, and we rely on one another to keep things moving!\u201d said Richard Bowman, air traffic controller based at Nav Canada\u2019s tower at Pitt Meadows Regional Airport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nav Canada Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Myth #4: The job is solitary<\/strong> 
\u201cTeamwork is an important role to ensure we maintain safety. Our team is spread out across the nation and each of us play a role towards the safe operation of aviation through all the phases of the flight. We become efficient when we all play our parts as it is set out through standards and procedures. Even when employees have single stand shifts, they are in frequent contact with pilots, flight dispatchers, and other Nav Canada team members across the country,\u201d said Hady Tohme, flight service specialist based at Nav Canada\u2019s Edmonton Flight Information Centre.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nav Canada Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Myth #5: Air traffic services are mostly automated <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile it is true that there have been incredible advances in the technologies we use to provide air traffic services since Canada’s first air traffic control tower opened in 1939, air traffic service professionals continue to play a vital role. Additionally, the relationship between ATS professionals, pilots, and ground crews is built on trust and clear communication, something automation cannot fully replicate. ATS professionals are essential to the realization of our ultimate goal of keeping Canada’s sky safe,\u201d said Yan Tremblay, director of airport and flight information services at Nav Canada. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nav Canada Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Myth #6: You need to work in a big city or close to an airport <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot all air traffic controllers and flight service specialists work in major hubs; many are based in remote areas far away from the pilots and colleagues they communicate with daily. Nav Canada’s air traffic service professionals manage one of the largest airspaces in the world and our sites are spread out from coast-to-coast-to-coast,\u201d said Abby Kahlon, site manager at Nav Canada. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nav Canada Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Myth #7: The work becomes routine after a while<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Every day is different. Weather systems are constantly changing, and pilots have unique needs on every flight. Working in a Flight Information Centre, my colleagues and I provide pre-flight information, including weather briefings, NOTAMs, and updates about airspace issues that pilots may encounter enroute. We handle flight planning, offer alerting services to ensure flights reach their destinations safely, and communicate via remote communication outlets (RCOs) across the country. These communications can involve anything from weather updates and flight plan changes to clearance relays from air traffic controllers, or even handling emergency MAYDAY calls. Additionally, we are responsible for issuing all NOTAMs within our area of responsibility,” said Wayne Van Petten, flight service specialist team supervisor based at Nav Canada\u2019s Edmonton Flight Information Centre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nav Canada Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Myth 8: It\u2019s impossible to handle the stress long-term<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI get this question a lot. The job can have stressful moments, but we have our down times during our shifts as well.\u202fWhat most people don\u2019t know is how much training and support we have.\u202f We train extensively for these moments, so when we reach a stressful situation, we are prepared to react as if it is a normal part of our job.\u202fWhen the situation is over, if needed, we also have the option to be supported through our peer support programs,\u201d said David Mercer, flight service specialist team supervisor at Nav Canada. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready to let your career take flight?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nav Canada is hiring air traffic service professionals, including air traffic controllers and flight service specialists across Canada. Visit the careers page<\/a> to learn more about this rewarding path. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here are the top eight myths about what happens behind the radar screens, courtesy of Canada’s air traffic control provider.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":306,"featured_media":359159,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[99317],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-359139","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-airports","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/features\/359139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/features"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/features"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/306"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=359139"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/359159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=359139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=359139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skiesmag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=359139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}