Apart from pilots, who directly fly the aircraft, there is actually a large team of specialists involved in servicing the flights. This applies, above all, to air traffic controllers who ensure that planes take off successfully, avoid other planes and land safely. Every time they start their shift, they literally share the responsibility with a crew for the lives of the passengers, and in crisis situations, they are ready to help find a way out. They are called Guardian Angels in America.
Our today’s interviewee, Artur YUSHKOV, a 26-year-old air traffic controller working at UkSATSE Aerodrome Control Tower located at Boryspil airport, found himself in this hugely responsible and stressful job.
He gladly agreed to tell us about his work shifts. But we had to go through several approval steps to get to the Tower. It took us about a week to get our visit approved, as it is a sensitive facility and aviation security is involved. Our data was first checked by UkSATSE security service. The Ukrainian Security Service also used their databases to check us. Finally, our visit to the Tower was approved the day before the planned date.
Though, that was not all - we also had to go through the procedure of obtaining one-day passes, a metal detector frame and a thorough search. After all the checks, we could finally get to the workplaces of air traffic controllers and interview Artur Yushkov about his crucial choice of profession, the strict air traffic controllers requirements, the work peculiarities and the stressful situations he had to deal with.
 “I WAS BORN ON APRIL 12, WORLD’S AVIATION AND COSMONAUTICS DAY”
- Artur, please tell us why you decided to become an air traffic controller.
- My path to aviation began as early as my birth. Symbolically, I was born on April 12, the World’s Aviation and Cosmonautics Day. Therefore, it seems that fate left me no choice but to go into aviation (laughs - ed.).
When the time came to choose my future profession, I was very enthusiastic about the idea of becoming an air traffic controller. Gradually, I began to learn more about this profession, found the UkSATSE website, and read a lot. Also, I watched films about aviation. By the way, there are quite a lot of them. The more I learned about this profession, the better I realized: it’s my thing.
For instance, I was very impressed that you have a lot of responsibility in this job. I was also fascinated by its close relation to information. It’s common knowledge that the one who owns information, owns the world. Aviation does have a certain romance...
- Where and how long did you study?
- There are two higher education institutions in Ukraine today that train air traffic controllers: Kropyvnytskyi Flight Academy of the National Aviation University and the National Aviation University in Kyiv. As I am from Kropyvnytskyi where the Flight Academy is located, I decided to choose this higher education institution.
I didn’t see myself in any other profession, so I submitted my external independent test results in Ukrainian, English and math straight away to this particular institution. I studied at the Air Traffic Services and Air Navigation Department for five years specialising in air traffic control.
- How did you get a job at UkSATSE?
- Actually, today there is no distribution after graduation from flight schools, so every graduate has to look for a job for himself or herself. When I graduated from the Academy, there was no job in my speciality, but there are always exceptions! I had to pull myself together and fight my way to a job knocking at all the doors, and one of them opened up. The fact that I was a member of the Academy Senior Council also played a role. I’ve learned in five years to be more decisive when talking to people of high rank.
Before that, I had to take the initial simulator training in theory and practice at the Training and Certification Center of UkSATSE. Also, a prerequisite was passing FEAST, the European cognitive skills test on the computer, which I passed in my third year.
I worked at Vinnytsia aerodrome for two and a half years, and later I moved to Boryspil. All in all, I have been working in this profession for almost five years now.
“EVERY YEAR I OBTAIN CERTIFICATES FROM A PSYCHOLOGIST AND A DRUG THERAPIST, AND I HAVE A MEDICAL EXAMINATION BEFORE EACH SHIFT”
- How does your shift start?
- We take turns working three shifts: morning, afternoon and night, which we call one cycle. Then we have one day to sleep in and two days off. Such a schedule is not something made up by somebody, but it is regulated by the recommendations of the international organisations. Since the work is intense and demanding, a good rest is of great importance.
We have a medical examination before each shift where we have our pulse measured, our temperature taken and our general well-being checked. Only after that, we are allowed to work. By the way, we also receive a certificate from a psychologist every year and are examined by a Medical Flight-Expert Commission to undergo an aviation personnel health certification every two years.
We always have a briefing before each shift during which the weather conditions, number of flights, arrival of special flights and other important factors are reported. Today, for example, we are having a medium flying intensity and good weather for flying, so the shift should go well.
We take shifts from our colleagues right on the spot as the operation at the Tower must be uninterrupted. We ask them about the nuances of the last few hours, see how many planes are on frequency so that we know each aircraft position and commands they’ve received. Only then do we log in with our username and password. From the moment we are logged in, we bear full responsibility for air traffic control.
- How has the quarantine affected the number of flights?
- Whereas before the pandemic, we were providing service for about 350 aircraft a day, now this number is 120-130. We hope the traffic will recover sooner or later.
“ALL COMMAND MESSAGES TO CREWS MUST BE SHORT AND CLEAR”
- Please tell us about the commands you give to crews.
- We have to use in our work a standard radio-telephony phraseology established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), EUROCONTROL and UkSATSE. All command messages to crews must be short and clear. Because these phrases are fixed, while long text overloads the air.
- What do you say when you give permission for an aircraft to land?
- If the runway is clear and there are no obstacles, then we give information in English about the wind, runway number and the landing command.
In English it reads as follows: “Wind 230 degrees, 3 meters per second, runway 18 left, cleared to land!” If the runway is occupied, we give the command to continue approach.
The area of responsibility of our team includes all flights at the altitude of 900 metres (3000 feet). Though to avoid collisions, we must also work together with other airspace sectors responsible for other altitudes.
- Is your working language English?
- Yes, we speak mainly in English during communications with crews. It is one of the ICAO languages. In general, there are six English language proficiency levels according to the requirements of this organization. Controllers and pilots in Ukraine must have at least the fourth or fifth English language proficiency level. I have the fifth level now. Only those who work in English-speaking countries can obtain the sixth level.
 “I ONCE HAD TO CONTROLL LANDING OF AN AIRCRAFT WITH ENGINE FAILURE”
- The media often publish news about planes experiencing bird strike. Tell us about how you cooperate with aviation ornithologists in such cases.
- Actually, there are a lot of services at the aerodrome closely depending on each other. They are aerodrome services, meteorological services and also ornithologists. We have one frequency for aircraft where we give them commands, and another one for communication with ground services.
Although bird incidents are indeed very common occurrences, we can manage the situation by working as a team. Anyway, we just give commands, while pilots control the aircraft directly.
All pilots have a preliminary flight plan, however they may deviate from it on our command if they need, for instance, to speed up the aircraft to get to destination earlier. Or in case of some potential conflict situation ... But if a pilot cannot turn left for a number of reasons, we cannot insist on it. We must ensure that the pilot manoeuvres safely.
- Which of your shifts were the most stressful?
- A shift is usually stressful when some incident occurs. And you have to work even harder and do everything possible to provide the crew with the required support.
When I worked at Vinnytsia aerodrome, I once had to control landing of an aircraft with engine failure. Fortunately, all ended well, however it was quite stressful. Working days, when there are severe weather conditions and you have to perform more processes giving more commands, are also exhausting. For example, when there is fog or rain.
Generally speaking, an aircraft is the safest kind of transport in the world. When an air crash happens, it is very powerful in scale and gets a lot of publicity. We have to understand that all aviation is written in blood. But no plane crash can happen twice. Because it’s the coincidence of a dozen factors. Just remove one of them, and the accident could be avoided. After all, now both an aircraft and an air traffic controller have the so-called backup systems, and in case something suddenly fails, one system will replace the other.
- Artur, what character traits do you think are important for an air traffic controller?
- First and foremost is responsibility. You also need to have good concentration, attention and situational awareness. Stress tolerance is another important requirement. Determination is also necessary, because all our work is basically based on permanent decision-making. A good air traffic controller must also be strong in spirit. Because if a person is easy to get emotional, he or she might not be able to cope with continuous tension, which poses a threat to flights and safety. By the way, the main slogan of UkSATSE is: “Safety. Efficiency. Responsibility”.
“THERE IS AN UNWRITTEN RULE IN AVIATION THAT GOES: NEVER SAY “FINAL”, BUT RATHER “LAST” FLIGHT”
- Artur, are there any prejudices in your profession which you follow?
- Not really. Although, there is an unwritten rule in aviation that goes: never say “final”, but rather “last” flight. My colleagues and I also follow it.
- At the beginning of our conversation, you mentioned that you learnt the air traffic controller profession through films. Today, with experience under your belt, can you tell us whether the work in aviation is covered truthfully in popular films? For example, what do you think of The Aviator, starring Leonardo DiCaprio?
- Of course, directors often neglect important things, and they probably do it deliberately so as not to overburden the picture for the audience. But films like The Aviator or Sully are quite good at exposing the specifics of flying professions. I would also recommend a bestselling novel Airport by Arthur Hailey for those who want to learn more about aviation.
- Do you have any hobbies that are not related to your work?
- Yes, I enjoy mobile photography. I like taking pictures of architecture, in particular the combination of concrete and glass. I also like travelling and discovering other cultures.
- Do you manage to be a mere passenger when travelling by plane, and not to monitor landings or take-offs? Or does an air traffic controller continue working even on board the plane?
- Partly (laughs - ed.). One and a half years ago, I was flying from Boryspil to Lviv. I remember how interesting it was to watch all the processes during take-off as I know this aerodrome very well and I’m familiar with all the details. Only when we took off did I “let the flight go”.
 - Artur, if you had to choose a profession again today, would you make the same choice?
- I can answer for sure: yes! It is a very interesting and multifaceted profession where every shift is a certain challenge. There is dynamics, development and non-typical situations in it. It also gives you an adrenaline rush for sure. It’s a creative profession as well, though it may sound strange to some people. Incidentally, I’m left-handed, and they say we are inherently creative. Although the air traffic controller work is mostly associated with logic and clear operational instructions we must follow, there are many unprescribed or unforeseen situations when we have to use creative approach as well.
If you’re having an eye on this profession now, I can say that despite all the difficulties, the result is definitely worth the effort. Aviation is not just numbers or trajectories, it’s the sheer inspiration, the sense of freedom and the enormous responsibility you take on every time you sit down at the console. Happy flights to all of us! |
