Twelve SCAA trainees graduate from air traffic control course |22 June 2023

Group photo of the trainees with their certificate

A group of aspiring air traffic controllers, recently recruited by the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), have received their certificate after completing a first phase of training.

The course, AB Initio, also known as the ICAO 051, is the first rung of the ladder for a career in air traffic control.

The training was conducted in-house by two instructors, Oliver Farirayi and Ephrem Nehondo, from Takeoff Aviation Academy, a UK-based aviation training organisation, supported by the Training Unit section of the ATM division, SCAA.

The course ran from April 24 to June 16, 2023.

The trainees needed to complete 8 modules in total ranging from Air Law, Air Traffic Management and Human Factors.

They also had to pass a total of 7 exams as well as completing different assignments, including a Professional Environment presentation based on a field visit to Praslin domestic airport.

Following this graduation ceremony, the next phases of certification will continue prior to trainees being fully certified air traffic controllers by February 2024.

The general manager responsible for Air Navigation Services (ANS) department at SCAA, Esmee Samson, highlighted the importance of this particular training for aspiring air traffic controllers.

In her remarks she noted that, “the AB Initio training is vital to teach the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to enable a trainee air traffic controller to progress to a rated air traffic controller. It is paramount to the well-being of this organisation as it helps towards capacity building of our human resources and will help us meet the demands of this dynamic industry called civil aviation, to have a trained and competent workforce that is recognised by all our partners, especially the International Civil Aviation Organisation”.

The graduates were all elated with their success and noted the myriad challenges they had to overcome to succeed.

“We all came in with the expectation and drive to become air traffic controllers. Although the course was very challenging, requiring a lot of focus, and sacrifices, as a team we were all determined to achieve 100 percent success rate, which we did,” said Lydie Morel, trainee air traffic controller, SCAA.

Another trainee, Ned Rosalie, said that “despite the compact 8 weeks, whereby we had to learn and assimilate about an industry that was new to most of us, the support that was given to us by rated air traffic controllers, instructors and the whole ANS team, allowed us to pass this course with flying colours. It was worth it, and we are definitely looking forward to what’s to come”.

Also present at the short ceremony was the management team of ANS, the training team from the same department as well as the instructor and course facilitator, Oliver Farirayi.

Contributed