Senior Minister of State
in the Office of the President, Simon Khaya-Moyo, has reiterated calls
to improve conditions of service for air traffic controllers, saying
they play a key role in the growth of the country’s tourism sector. Air
traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who
direct aircraft on the ground through controlled airspace and can
provide advisory services to aircraft to non-controlled space.
The
primary purpose of air traffic control worldwide is to prevent
collisions, organize and expedite the flow of air traffic. “All efforts
to bring economic success and grow tourism contributions hinge on the
excellent safety record and professionalism that our air traffic
controllers have produced over the years,” said Khaya-Moyo.
He
was speaking in Kariba recently during commemorations of the
International Day of the Air Traffic Controller, organized by the Air
Traffic Controllers Association of Zimbabwe (ATCAZ). On October 20 every
year, the world celebrates the role played by air traffic controllers
in recognition of the founding of the International Federation of Air
Traffic Controllers Associations (IFATCA).
ATCAZ is a
professional organization of air traffic controllers employed the Civil
Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) and is a member of IFATCA which
represents more than 50 000 air traffic controllers from over 135
countries worldwide.
This year’s commemorations ran under the theme, “A Proud and Professional Air Traffic Control Family: Active in the Community.”
Khaya-Moyo
said air traffic controllers remained busy in 2014. “Over the past
years we have witnessed a positive growth in air traffic volumes,” he
said.
“New airlines among them Fast Jet and Fly Africa started
flying in Zimbabwe this year and the volumes of over fliers increased.
The successful hosting of the Routes Africa 2014 and the SADC (Southern
African Development Community) summit are some of the major highlights
that kept the air traffic controllers busy for 2014.”
The
increase in volumes has said necessitated the splitting of the upper
airspace into two, said ATCAZ. Khaya-Moyo, a former minister of
transport and ATCAZ patron, said the safety record of the national flag
carrier, Air Zimbabwe, was attributable to the sterling efforts of air
traffic controllers.
“It must be remembered that the air traffic
controllers are the nerve center of air travel and therefore must be
afforded appropriate remuneration and utmost respect,” said Khaya-Moyo.
“They
(air traffic controllers) also partner our security forces in
safeguarding our skies and facilitating the smooth and safe movement of
VVIP and VIP flights.”
He said there was a need to ensure the
upgrading of the air traffic control tools of trade to ensure all
requisite infrastructure and facilities were in an excellent condition
and high quality. “I am proud to note that the Zimbabwean air traffic
controllers even with the substantial increase in air flight volumes
continue to prove their capacity to work under pressure by producing
accident free airspace management for CAAZ and the country as a whole,”
said Khaya-Moyo.
ATCAZ president, Evans Makuku bemoaned that
their profession remained one of the more obscure jobs with many people
still ignorant about it. “Ours is a job that requires us to maintain
high levels of good health so that we pass the regular medical
examinations regardless of age,” he explained.
“The profession of
air traffic control requires intelligence, diligence, dedication and a
host of other skills. Controllers have the critical role to maintain a
safe, orderly and movement of air traffic.” He added that as part of
their efforts to sensitize the public on their job they always sought
the involvement and participation of the public in their program.
- Source: http://www.financialgazette.co.zw
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