About 100,000 flights around the world take off and land each day. In just one year, over 4 billion passengers travel by plane. With so many planes in the air, it’s amazing that flying by plane is as safe as it is. The safety of air travel is largely attributed to air traffic controllers. These professionals direct air traffic on the ground at airport runways and taxiways. Air traffic controllers also monitor and direct the movement of planes through airspace. Additionally, they issue landing and takeoff orders to pilots.
The job of air traffic controllers is extremely difficult. Their job requires intense concentration. Sometimes the plane is only a blip in a sea of darkness. No wonder it’s one of the 5 most stressful professions. There is never a time when the skies are not monitored by air traffic controllers. They work day and night, including weekends and holidays, to keep pilots and their passengers safe. They must also direct planes during inclement weather and a variety of emergency situations.
Air traffic controllers that work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must be at least 30 years old. They must also retire by the age of 56. However, if they have exceptional skills, they may work until the age of 61. In the United States, there are more than 14,000 air traffic controllers.
In 1956, Jacob Wachtel proposed his idea of an international federation for air traffic controllers. Wachtel was the founder and first chairman of the Israel Air Traffic Controller’s Association. On October 20th, he along with representatives from 12 different countries, formed the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (IFATCA) on October 20th, 1961. The IFATCA is registered in Switzerland but has its headquarters in Montreal, Canada. To mark the IFATCA’s anniversary, the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller is held every year on October 20th.
Source: https://nationaldaycalendar.com
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