Answer the following questions:

VIDEO # 4

Warm up.

• Watch a video and guess what we are going to discuss now.

1. Compare pilot’s and air traffic controller’s jobs. Read the following sentences and decide whose job they describe. Justify your opinion.

8. A very important requirement for this job is the ability to stay perfectly calm in emergencies.

9. They provide a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of traffic.

10. They issue traffic information in the airport traffic area for sequencing purposes.

11. They acknowledge getting and understanding clearances.

12. They immediately comply with assigned headings and altitudes.

13. T hey’re responsible for avoiding conflicting traffic, terrain or obstacles.

14. They accept responsibility for wake turbulence separation.

1. They monitor the skies 24 hours a day.

2. While flying they make sure that they maintain a safe distance between aircraft.

3. They find their job exciting but difficult because of a huge amount of stress involved.

4. The irregular, unsocial hours they work affect their social life.

5. They’re responsible for the safe operation of the aircraft.

6. They have to act quickly to prevent air collisions in the sky.

7. They enjoy talking about the excitement of their job and the thrill they get from it.

What controller are you?

you

your partner

Paul

1. Have you ever thought / dreamt about being a pilot?

2. Why did you choose to be an air traffic controller?

3. Do you think you have made the right choice?

4. How did you get the job?

5. How long have you had your present job?

6. Have you made any sacrifices to do this job?

7. What would you advise someone who wants to do your job?

8. What would you do if you did not work in aviation?

2. Look through the text and choose a suitable heading for each paragraph.

1. The Aims of ATC

2. The Air Traffic Controllers’ Job Definition

3. Education and Training

4. World Air Traffic Controller’s Day

5. Necessary characteristics to be an ATC

6. Working Patterns and Conditions

7. Health Requirements to the Job

8. The English Language Proficiency Requirements

9. Working place

The objectives of ATC are as follows:

• To prevent collisions between aircraft

• To prevent collisions between aircraft on the maneuvering area of an aerodrome and obstruction on the area.

• To provide and maintain a safe, expeditious and orderly flow of air traffic.

Air traffic control services also provide flight information services, alerting services and, depending on the aviation authority of individual States, Search and Rescue services.

4.

A lmost universally, trainee controllers begin to work in their twenties, and retire in the fifties. Strict physical and psychological tests and excellent vision, hearing, speaking skills are a requirement, and controllers must take precautions to remain healthy and avoid certain medications that are banned for controllers. As controllers have a large responsibility while on duty, the ATC profession is often regarded as one of the most difficult jobs today, and can be often stressful.

Although local languages are sometimes used in ATC communications, the language of aviation worldwide is English. Controllers dealing with foreign crews are supposed to show a certain minimum level (Operational) of competency with the language in accordance with ICAO requirements.

Communication is a vital part of the job: controllers are trained to focus precisely on the words pilots and other controllers say, because a single misunderstanding about a flight level or a runway number, for example, can result in tragedy.

Civilian Air Traffic Controllers’ licensing is standardized by international agreement through ICAO. A lot of countries have Air Traffic Control schools, colleges or Academies. They train student controllers from walking in off the street to the standards required to hold an Air Traffic Control licence, which will contain one or more ratings. ICAO defines five such ratings: Area (procedural), Area Radar, Approach (procedural), Approach Radar and Aerodrome.

A learning process is extensive because air traffic controllers require knowledge of the following: meteorology, geography, navigation and navigation aids, maps and charts, operational procedures. They learn very precise definitions, rules and regulations.

Whenever an air traffic controller starts his \her career, or is posted to a new unit or starts working for a new sector within a particular unit, he or she must undergo a period of training regarding the procedures specific to that particular unit or sector. The most of this training is done in a live position controlling real aircraft and is termed On-the-Job Training (OJT), with a fully qualified and trained mentor or On-the-Job Training Instructor who are ready to take over in a second if it becomes necessary. The length of this phase of training varies from a matter of months to many years, depending on the complexity of the sector. Only when a person has gone through all these training stages, he will be allowed to control on his own.

Training is ongoing not only because of knowledge required in ever-changing working locations, but also because of ever-changing equipment and continual updates to rules and regulations.

There are indicators of primary and secondary radars. What is more, each working place is equipped with ADF. There is a meteorological screen available overhead left or right of the working place. It shows current weather for the airport. All controllers sit at special desks with built-in radar screens to observe traffic and to get all necessary information about aircraft. Controllers also draw diagrams to keep traffic information under control and to predict dangerous situations in case of any electrical failure. In addition, there are touch screens to coordinate work with pilots, the adjacent areas, neighbouring ATC units, militaries and other services. Controllers have two-way communication and use a microphone to contact pilots and to give instructions to them.

It is common to work on a position for 1-2 hours and then take a 15-30 minute break.

Nearly always air traffic controllers work indoors in control centers and at radar terminals. Occasionally they work outside when observing aircraft from the ground. Controllers can retire at the age of 50 with 20 years active service or at any age after 25 years active service.

T he 20^th of October is the World’s Air Traffic Controllers’ Day. It is a day when many air traffic control officers world-wide celebrate their own day and publicize their profession. This day has been celebrated every year since 1961.

2. Look through paragraph 8 again and say, if the information is true for Russian air traffic controllers. Add your own information.

2. Here’s the list of adjectives describing qualities certain professions need. Underline the adjectives which describe qualities an air traffic controller needs to have. Then make sentences as in the example.

e.g. ● An air traffic controller has to be accurate in order to avoid errors in his job.

● An air traffic controller should be careful not to make mistakes in his job.