Pilots sought to relieve traffic control shortage

Press, 7 February 1986, Page 3

Pilots sought to relieve traffic control shortage

PA Wellington The Ministry of Transport plans to advertise for 45 pilots whom it can quickly train to relieve a shortage of air traffic controllers.

The new so-called “adult” trainees will supplement experienced controllers being recruited overseas, according to the Civil Aviation Division’s assistant director in charge of air traffic services, Mr Laurie Coker. The drive comes as the Air Traffic Controllers’ Association and the Ministry have disclosed staff shortages so bad that closing Auckland Airport at

night has been considered. The association’s vicepresident, Mr Dean Dalzell, said shortages had reached a critical point. “Things are starting to

fall apart.” As staff shortages developed at centres, controllers were being asked to work extra shifts, causing fatigue. Mr Coker said some new staff had been recruited already, and an advertisment would soon be placed seeking 45 adult trainees, with a pilot’s licence. Persons with a commercial pilot licence and instrument rating

would be preferred. Pilots required less training and would be able to start work more quickly than cadet recruits, he said. Pilots would still attend training at the Aviation College in Christchurch for instruction on weather, aviation law, and radio and navigational aids. The new controllers would begin their careers at a good time, but had to expect to be posted to various regions to get promotion. It would be several years before they were experienced enough to use radar screens at main control centres.