Air traffic services
Air traffic control
A UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Air Traffic Controllers License and a Meteorological Observers Certificate are needed for work at air traffic control. To obtain these you have to be trained at a CAA Airport.
You have to 'think in 3D' as you handle aircraft flying into your sector from different directions and at different levels. Work covers air traffic services, navigation, meteorology, telecommunications, aerodynamics, automatic data processing, etc. Training takes around three years, then you start as an air traffic control assistant supporting the controllers with visual control of the airfield both on the ground and in the air. Assistants respond to telephone and radio enquiries, provide meteorological and flight planning information and relevant air traffic information to other departments, and maintain the air traffic control tower diary and training records.
Competition is fierce. Aged 18 26, you need at least five GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above, including Mathematics and English. And be able to work shifts, to even start on the career path for this demanding job. More information may be found on the Web site www.nats.co.uk.
The CAA has a Cadet Entry Scheme for candidates aged 18 26 with at least two A Levels (or equivalent) or three GCSE higher grades including Mathematics or a Science. Cadets are selected by tests and interviews. Or you may be able to obtain sponsorship, or pay for the course yourself.
Flight briefing
Flight briefing is part of the air traffic services department, providing flight briefing services to aircrew in accordance with CAA regulations. This covers information on the telephone and personal enquiries, updating meteorological charts and information to visiting crews, flight planning information, regularly updating the airports computerized aircraft billing system (every time a plane lands it has to pay a fee), and processing payment of aircraft landing fees. For this, you will need GCSEs or equivalent in English, Mathematics, Geography and probably Physics.
Case Study
Euro control operates the Upper Area Control Centre at Beak in the Netherlands.
Euro control looks for students 18 25 with advanced secondary education who are medically fit (the application form includes an official certificate, which you have to take to an optician to fill out). You must have normal color perception, good spoken and written English, and be a national of a Euro control member state (EU, other European countries, and border countries including Moldova, Malta, Cyprus and Turkey).
You go through a rigorous testing process, which includes 'dynamic aptitude tests', and sign an undertaking to serve for at least four years with the agency. Documents are checked for criminal record history, if any, and you must be security cleared by your country.
Air Traffic Control at Euro control generally works four days on and two days off. Depending on how busy are traffic patterns you could work 0800 1345; or 1340 2235; or 0830 1745 (filling in) or 2200 0800 (if at a major airport that is less busy at night time).
Career progression can lead to positions as an instructor, or in training, research and development or operations. You cease active work at 55 or 57, and receive a pension.
Once you have experience, the Royal Air Force occasionally recruits aviation officers grade 2 (air traffic controllers) to be employed within the Civil Service, and commissioned in the RAF Reserve.
Car hire concessions
Most major car hire companies have desks at airports needing staff to work shifts, which are able to drive, with good customer service skills.
Catering
Most airlines today out source their catering, and airlines buy meals from companies such as Alpha (who cater for 370,000 flights a year), Chelsea Catering (an American company), Cara (Canadian) and Gate Gourmet.
Case Study
Gate Gourmet:
When the IFCA (In flight Catering Association) Conference was held in Gate Gourmet's home town of Geneva, the company went all out to capture catering contracts from those of the world's airlines attending this event.
Twelve hundred guests were entertained in a massive hanger at Geneva Airport. As they arrived, Cirque du Soleil entertainers greeted them, before they sat down to a six course dinner prepared by 120 chefs working in a field kitchen. The final course was a 'Swiss Surprise'. Each guest was presented with a plate on which were six tiny frozen desserts (all different) and six piping hot puddings. To do this the chefs had prepared the plates that afternoon with the six frozen desserts, and then stored them in portable freezers. Came the time for service, and all 120 chefs were waiting as waiters came by with the frozen plates each chef popped on a tiny hot pudding once past a brigade of six chefs the waiters came out to present the plates to the guests.
The result of this was orders for Gate Gourmet, including British Airways!
Foreign exchange cashiers
Most passengers will want to change money and they will look for a bureau de change at an airport. International Currency Exchange pic employs staff at airports around the world with outlets from Edinburgh to US airports. Staff is 18+, with good customer service skills, numerate, accurate, responsible and reliable. Ideally, you will have a banking or retail background, or be used to handling money.
IATA
Founded in 1919, IATA (International Air Transport Association) is the worldwide voice of around 270 of the world's airlines, flying over 95 per cent of all international scheduled air traffic. IATA talks directly to governments on airline matters.
Thanks to IATA, passengers can make one ticket booking and travel around the world on different airlines. Continual efforts by IATA ensure that people, freight and mail can fly easily around the world and members' aircraft can operate safely, securely, efficiently and economically under clearly defined rules. Before an airline is accepted into membership, it has to satisfy strict safety criteria. By monitoring and controlling airline costs, IATA helps keep down ticket prices.
Using IATA as a clearing house, members can settle credits and debits between themselves at one location. Last year more than 54,000 passenger agent offices sent $110 billion to more than 340 airlines using IATA's Billing and Settlement Plans. For a travel agent to become accredited to IATA, it has to demonstrate financial soundness, have well trained staff and have suitable secured premises to safeguard stocks of airline tickets. Airline tickets are almost as negotiable as currency, so they have to be kept under lock and key.
Another aspect of IATA's work is establishing standards for different airline services, such as special menus or facilities for disabled passengers. If you are diabetic, or need a vegetarian or any other special meal, thanks to IATA you can choose from 28 different menu categories recognized by airline caterers around the world. On the cargo side, its dangerous goods regulations set the standard, and its in house publication, Dangerous Goods Regulations, is an unexpected bestseller!
When airlines want to start a new service, they have to bid for 'slots' to fly their aircraft into airports. IATA provides a forum between members who may have vested interests, governments and airports. Another service is fraud prevention. Currently stolen tickets cost the industry around 120 million a year, but IATA trains agents to recognize and prevent this. And good news for passengers who lose their luggage: IATA has formulated the Montreal Convention to replace the outdated Warsaw Convention with its pathetically low compensation payments. Hopefully, it will be ratified soon. Even better news: IATA is working on a safety program to cut accident rates in half by 2004 compared with 1995.
All this work needs staff and with offices in Montreal, Geneva, Amman, Beijing, Brussels, Dakar, London (Hounslow), Miami, Nairobi, Santiago de Chile, Singapore and Washington, DC, there should be something in most regions.
