KNOW THE ETC'S OF ATC

Do you really have to be down for whatever it takes to resonate frequencies of an air traffic controller? To start off, the 3-hour long webinar that consists of three (3) segments with at least an hour each–commenced at precisely 1 in the afternoon on the 21st of May 2022. Mr. Johan Andre Acuba, and Ms. Sharmaine Lacanlale, both 4th Year BS Avionics Technology students, hosted the webinar collaborated by the PATTS Avionics Technology (PAVIOS), and the Guild of Air Transportation Students (GATS). In this webinar streamed via Google Meet, PAVIOS President Sheyne Concibido led the opening remarks. Then, a song performance by the PATTS Vocal Harmony followed.

Stressed to “keep calm, and pay attention,” the speaker – Mr. Belfrich M. Caroro II, a licensed air traffic controller in the Manila control tower and a PATTS bonafide alma mater of batch 2018 – started the webinar with the objective of understanding, and gaining basic knowledge about air traffic control, and how ATC’s adapted to this pandemic. Introducing what Air Traffic Service is, “they prevent collision between aircraft,'' “expedite and maintain an orderly flow of air traffic,” and “provides advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights,” he said—continuing to the five (5) phases of flight, namely: planning phase, taxi phase, approach phase, descent phase, and cruise phase respectively.

As a Manila control tower representative, he discussed that air traffic control service is established, and is divided into three (3) parts. First, the Aerodrome Control Service controls all air traffic in the maneuvering area of an aerodrome, and all aircraft flying within the vicinity of the aerodrome–the likes of commercial and general aviation, fixed-wing and rotary flights, IFR and VFR flights, and vehicles on the runway. Second, the Approach Control Service is provided to control flights arriving and departing from different aerodromes. And last, the Area Control Service controls flights under its jurisdiction

Proceeding to aspiring ATCs, a 10-month training course that is sponsored by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Comprehensive Air Traffic Service Course is divided into three (3) phases: theoretical, facility training, and OJT, Mr. Caroro explained. The training can be a prerequisite for taking an ATC license as it requires certification from the training, seven (7) theoretical subjects, a medical certificate, a practical skill test grading sheet, and English Language Proficiency (ELP) certificate. He summed up the webinar with the challenges they faced as an ATC especially in this pandemic–that in order to cope with the gradually increasing number of cases–they instead stay in the sleeping quarters provided in the tower.