Celebrating 100 Years of ATC

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

The year 2022 marks the 100^th anniversary of air traffic control

The first internationally agreed rules, drafted in 1919 by the Commission Internationale de Navigation Aérienne (CINA), were ratified by 10 countries in 1922.

The first mid-air collision between two commercial airliners over Normandy (France) in April 1922 further encouraged the UK, France, Belgium and The Netherlands to implement guidelines for keeping aircraft separated, thus forming the basis for air traffic control as a service to avoid collisions.

The route between Croydon, UK and Le Bourget (France) quickly gained popularity as flying could save a considerable amount of time compared to a ferry crossing. Both airports recruited controllers and erected dedicated structures that were the precursors of an ATC tower. Both countries started employing controllers around that time (1921-22).

At Croydon, these controllers began issuing take-off 'clearances' from July 1922. Around the same time, they began coordinating flights between the different observation posts along routes and between airports.

As the route network expanded, so did the need for Air Traffic Control.

from https://www.atc100years.org

ATCO License

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 12:41:00 +0000

The purpose of ATCO licensing is to enable each National Aviation Authority (NAA) to regulate air traffic controllers within their State. The system includes the issue, maintenance and, where necessary, the revocation of ATCO licences.

The ATCO licence identifies the holder:

as a person who is qualified to provide ATC service
it contains details, usually described as ratings and endorsements, of the type(s) of ATC service that the licence holder may provide and
it may restrict the ATC Unit(s) where the holder may provide these services.

The acquisition of a valid licence requires that specified requirements relating to professional competency and medical fitness be met and, for retention, that these be checked at specified time intervals. Competency in the use of English Language may also have to be demonstrated and endorsed in an ATCO Licence.

Federation of Latvian Aviation Trade Unions - ATC/ATCOs

Celebrating 100 Years of ATC

The year 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of air traffic control

ATCO License

The year 2022 marks the 100^th anniversary of air traffic control