I’ve been working in ATC for almost 24 years and one of the most significant changes I’ve observed is how aviation has become less attractive as a career. It used to be an attractive, highly regarded industry and even if many people were not always aware of air traffic control (ATC), being an important cog in aviation was enough to attract a sufficient number of candidates to keep things running and growing. But times are changing.
Nowadays, some perceive aviation as a significant cause of pollution and global warming. There are only so many times we can repeat that it accounts for only 2.5% of the world's carbon emissions (compared to road transport, which accounts for 20%). But there are other factors, too. The next generation of workers are thinking differently about work. The around-the-clock working schedules and no access to remote work are serious factors pushing them away from aviation. Old, custom technology and very few transferrable skills can make it hard to sell. And the times when people entered into ATC and never left before retirement are long gone, too.
My colleague, Julija, was the secretary of EUROCAE’s workgroup 125 which prepared the report on the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP). The group explained how ANSP and the wider industry can become attractive to newcomers again. Don’t hesitate to let us know if you need support with this subject.
Often, the best way to introduce young people to aviation and ATM is by talking about your job with them. Show them what you do. Discuss the pros and cons. Encourage them to be curious. So in short, yes, you should talk about your job in ATM with young people!
Vincent
ANSP news
M-NAV, GOJSC Skopje and SMATSA LLC have signed the new Service Level Agreement for the shared use of radar sensor data- SMATSA LLC and M-NAV signed a new Service Level Agreement following Eurocontrol guidelines for SLA. The primary objective of this new SLA is to enhance mutual cooperation through bilateral data sharing. By improving radar coverage and the availability of radar data in the Flight Information Regions under the responsibility of both ANSPs, this new agreement elevates the quality and accessibility of surveillance data provided by both organizations. The new SLA agreement introduces functional enhancements that will expand surveillance coverage and provide additional sensor data, thereby improving situational awareness as a support tool for air traffic controllers.
Airport news
New milestone for Poland’s planned mega hub project – Airport World- The company behind the plans for Poland’s new CPK mega hub, which will contain an airport, railway station and public transport interchange, has announced that the project has entered “the design acceptance process”. It has received the construction design for the project from the master architect and notes that the design acceptance process has begun and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, potentially paving the way for construction to start in 2026.
London airport plans could add 'another Heathrow' to capital's aviation capacity- The article discusses the potential impact of airport expansion plans in London, highlighting the possibility of adding an equivalent of Heathrow in terms of aviation capacity. The plans are set to significantly increase the capital's air travel capabilities.
ERA a.s. - ERA´s system WAM West in Poland has gone operational- ERA company (a member of OMNIPOL group) celebrated the closure of its latest project in Poland, called WAM West. ERA, cooperating in the consortium with the ATC Branch of the local company GISS, delivered a Wide Area Multilateration/ADS-B system to cover the airspace above the western part of Poland, including the Terminal Manoeuvring Area of the Poznan airport. The system will be operated by PANSA.
Lektor Aero and Skyguide Partner to Enhance ATC Training- Lektor Aero, a pioneering company in Air Traffic Control training solutions, and Skyguide, a leading Air Navigation Service Provider from Switzerland, are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership to enhance Air Traffic Control education and ensure greater student success. This collaboration brings gamified ATC training as part of Skyguide’s air traffic control BASIC course at the Skyguide Academy, marking a significant step towards modernising ATC training.
FSF Panel to Focus on AAM Safety Challenges - Flight Safety Foundation- A panel organized by Flights Safety Foundation (FSF) will delve into the safety challenges of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). The discussion will center around strategies to enhance safety in the rapidly evolving field of AAM.
Reports and data
Good passenger growth in September - The Avinor Group- There were 57,078 commercial flight movements in September. This is 2 percent more than in September last year. There have been 1 percent fewer flight movements so far this year compared to the same period in 2023.
UAV and UTM
PANSA supports UAS UTM research project for crisis management operations - Unmanned airspace- PANSA supported student scientific groups participating in the Droniada OBLot training and research project on September 27-29, 2024 in Przasnysz. The aim of the project was for students to develop a proposal for the use of uncrewed aerial vehicles for crisis management. The event took place at the airport of the Aviation and Space Research Center (OBLot) of the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering of the Warsaw University of Technology.
"Navigating U-space and USSP certification: a new era in drone airspace management" - Unmanned airspace- As the global drone industry grows and evolves, managing airspace for unmanned aircraft systems has become a key priority. In Europe, this effort is encapsulated in U-space, a set of services designed to ensure the safe, secure, and efficient integration of drones into shared airspace. Managed by EASA and National Aviation Authorities, U-space offers a framework for providing airspace services-much like ATM for manned aviation but tailored specifically to unmanned operations. Commentary by Amit Ganjoo, Founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies.
