THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG LIBRARIES. Hong Kong Collection gift from Dr. Kan Lai Bing

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2 THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG LIBRARIES Hong Kong Collection gift from Dr. Kan Lai Bing

3 A Career as an Air Traffic Control Officer in the Civil Aviation Department One of the most important ground services in civil aviation is Air Traffic Control (ATC). It is a service provided by highly trained Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) using very sophisticated electronic equipment in co-operation with the flying crews to ensure the safe passage of aircraft from take-off to landing. To become a fully-fledged ATCO requires an average of seven years of training and practice during which the ATCO will acquire an extensive knowledge of a variety of related subjects such as Aviation Law, Air Navigation, Telecommunications, Radar, Meteorology and Aircraft Performance. Only a comprehensive knowledge of these subjects and a complete understanding of the theory of air traffic control itself, together with many years of experience, will produce the competent ATCO to perform the job of controlling aircraft in a safe, orderly and expeditious manner. ATCOs are civil servants and the benefits include free medical, pension gratuity, and housing benefits for eligible officers. Additionally, there are other fringe benefits for air traffic controllers, for instance:- (a) (b) (c) (d) The work maintains continued interest, for in such a fast growing industry as aviation new technology is continuously developed. To the young officer with an interest and an enquiring mind there is no limit to the knowledge which can be acquired from the work. Regular training courses are held throughout the first seven years of an officer's service, i.e. long after the officer has already become a practising controller. The work is, therefore, never boring. The professional qualifications attained by controllers are those required by international standards. It is in this way that the standard of Air Traffic Control in Hong Kong is maintained at a high level. The Hong Kong controllers have the satisfaction of knowing that they have received similar training and reached the same standard of ability as their counterparts in the most highly developed countries in the world. In order to attain this high standard, some of the basic training is carried out overseas. Other advanced training, too, may be done abroad. Controllers are taught to fly, at Government's expense, to the standard required for the issue of a Private Pilot's Licence. Subsequently, Government continues to pay for each controller to fly the required number of hours to maintain the validity of his or her Private Pilot's Licence.

4 (e) (f) Throughout a controller's career he or she is entitled to make "familiarization flights" at regular intervals to cities such as Manila, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, etc. to observe and compare the airport facilities in other countries. Expenses incurred on these trips are paid by Government and even the time spent abroad is counted as duty time. Although most Controllers work shift hours, the frequency of night duties is low while sufficient rest is ensured between shifts. Shift workers have the advantage of getting most of their days off during the week. They are thus able to avoid the weekend congestion which makes outings on Saturdays and Sundays so difficult and can make much better use their time off during the quieter weekdays. T^5T^ r:r:^^ Twice every year around January and July the Civil Aviation Department advertises vacancies for Student Air Traffic Control Officers (SATCOs), paid at Training Pay Scale (TPS) pointsll-14 (see salary scales at the Appendix on page 7). The following are the qualifications required:- (a) (b) (c) (d) A pass in at least two subjects at Advanced Level in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination, plus three subjects, including English Language (Syllabus B) and Mathematics at Grade C or above in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, or an equivalent qualification. Fluent spoken and written English. Medical fitness up to International Civil Aviation Organisation standards for Air Traffic Control Officers. Grade E or above in English Language (Syllabus B) and Chinese Language in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education, or equivalent. With their basic academic qualifications, it is expected that the SATCOs will be able to learn the profession of Air Traffic Control. Broadly speaking, once the academic qualifications are met, the most important qualities needed to gain selection are good spoken English, common sense, self-confidence and a quick mind.

5 For the new SATCO recruits, their training programme is as foliows> They will attend three courses and perform duties in three different places. Firstly they will learn the work of an Air Traffic Control Centre assistant processing messages and flight plans which arc continually received from and sent to other countries. Then they will work in the Control Tower on top of the Airport Passenger Terminal Building assisting the Aerodrome Controllers, recording aircraft movements and controlling the movements of vehicles on the airfield. Finally they will familiarise themselves with the work in the Aeronautical Information Centre providing essential aeronautical information to flight crews and vetting details of flights which plan to depart from Hong Kong. Most of the second year will be spent on training courses. Early in the year they will attend an Assistant Controller course which will enable the officers to qualify for their first ATC qualification as assistants to the Area Controllers. In this job, among many other duties, they will co-ordinate by radio with Taipei, Manila, Guangzhou and Bangkok Air Traffic Control Centres all the flights in and out of Hong Kong. In the middle of the year they will attend an overseas course entitled Primary ATC Course. They will also undertake flying training during this year. When they return from the overseas training early in the year, SATCOs will attend a course, followed by practical training, to qualify as an Area Controller. By the middle of the year, they will have qualified for the Area Control rating. The Area Controller is responsible for controlling aircraft flying beyond 50 miles on airways, one of which extends to approximately 640 miles from Hong Kong. Having qualified as an Area Controller, the SATCO is eligible for consideration for promotion to ATCO III (Master Pay Scale (MPS) points 26-33). 4th year The newly promoted ATCOs III will be working as Area Controllers for the former part of the year. During the latter part they will attend a course, followed by practical training, to qualify them as Aerodrome Controllers. The Aerodrome Controller is responsible for controlling aircraft flying in the vicinity of the Airport as well as aircraft and vehicles moving on the runway and the taxiways.

6 The dually rated ATCOs III will be working both in Area and in Aerodrome Control. After a period of consolidation, they will attend a radar control training course. During this year they should obtain the Approach Radar Control rating which is the basic qualification required for promotion to ATCO II. The Approach Controller is responsible for controlling aircraft flying within 50 miles of Hong Kong. Subject to vacancies, an ATCO III with the Approach Radar Control rating will be considered for promotion to ATCO II (MPS points 34-44B). Approach Controllers will subsequently attend a Precision Approach Radar (PAR) course which leads to the final ATC qualification, i.e. the PAR rating. The PAR Controller is responsible for guiding aircraft to land and take-off in bad weather by using special radar equipment. From then on, they will work as fully-fledged controllers. Suitable ATCOs II are also eligible for a variety of other office jobs in the Department such as Training, Operations and Planning Officers. By selection, senior ATCOs II will attend a Search and Rescue course to learn how to organise and control full scale searches and rescue missions for aircraft in distress. They would thenceforth be eligible for promotion to the next higher rank, namely ATCO I (MPS points 45-49)which, in turn, could lead to further promotions. The details given above refer to the planned programme for the training of SATCOs to become full-fledged controllers. They may be regarded as the normal rate of progression. An officer who has less aptitude for the work will of course take a longer time to complete the programme. On the other hand, an individual who is quick to learn will be able to complete the training in a shorter period of time. In other words, the progress in promotions and the rewards received by way of salary and job satisfaction depend very much on the individual officer.

7 A Career as an Air Traffic Flight Services Officer An Air Traffic Flight Services Officer's work is interesting and varied. There are, in fact, 3 main areas situated in the Airport Passenger Terminal Building where you will be required to work. These are> (a) (b) (c) The Air Traffic Control Centre The Aerodrome Control Tower The Aeronautical Information Centre When working in the Air Traffic Control Centre and the Aerodrome Control Tower, An Air Traffic Flight Services Officer (ATFSO) will be assisting Air Traffic Control Officers to perform their duties aimed at preventing aircraft collision in the air and on the ground and achieving a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic. In carrying out the above functions, extensive use of radio and land-line telephones will be required to communicate with other air traffic control units including those of adjacent countries. While working in the Aeronautical Information Centre, an ATFSO will be liaising closely with airline pilots and operational staff to provide them with accurate flight planning data which are essential for safe and efficient flight operations. As the Airport operates on a 24-hour basis, an ATFSO will, as a result, be required to work shifts. An ATFSO will subsequently attend an Assistant Controller Course. The Assistant Controller will co-ordinate by radio with Taipei, Manila, Guangzhou and Ho Chi Minh Air Traffic Control Centres for all the flights in and out of Hong Kong. The Department advertises several times each year the vacancies of ATFSO III, paid at Training Pay Scale (TPS) points The following are the qualifications required: (a) (b) Grade E or above in English Language (Syllabus B) and Chinese Language, and Grade E or above in 3 other subjects in Hong Kong Certificate of Education, or equivalent; Speak and write English fluently. On satisfactory completion of training for about two years, ATFSO III will be eligible for consideration for promotion to ATFSO II with a pay scale of MPS Rs (see salary scales at the Appendix on page 7). Suitable staff members of the ATFSO Grade will also be considered for transfer to the rank of Student Air Traffic Control Officer.

8 The career represents an exciting challenge. If you are selected you will be engaged in a dynamic and forward looking industry which advances with the development of modern technology. As part of the training, you may be given the opportunity, on a voluntary basis, to fly locally in a helicopter of the Government Flying Services so as to be familiar with the local topography. Enquiry telephone number:

9 DPS/MPS w.e.f. i Civil Aviation Department ATMD Salary Scales Point D2 Salary 101,450 98,550 95,550 Dl 85,400 82,850 80,450 CATCO SATFSO I ATFSOI ATFSOII MPS 49 MPS 48 MPS 47 MPS 46 (44B) MPS 45 (44 A) MPS 44 MPS 43 MPS 42 MPS 41 MPS 40 MPS 39 MPS 38 MPS 37 MPS 36 MPS 35 MPS 34 MPS 33 MPS 32 MPS 31 MPS 30 MPS 29 MPS 28 MPS 27 MPS 26 MPS 25 MPS 24 MPS 23 MPS 22 MPS 21 MPS 20 MPS 19 MPS 18 MPS 17 MPS 16 MPS 15 MPS 14 MPS 13 MPS 12 MPS 11 IPS 14 TPS13 IPS 12 IPS 11 72,195 69,690 67,270 64,915 62,665 60,475 58,370 55,965 53,660 51,440 49,315 47,135 45,060 43,035 41,120 39,300 38,210 36,490 34,855 33,290 31,805 30,365 29,005 27,705 26,460 25,305 24,165 23,080 22,035 20,985 19,990 19,045 18,145 17,270 16,450 15,660 14,905 14,055 13,230 14,875 14,220 13,345 12,235 ATCOI ATCOH ATCOffl SATCO ATFSOIH IPS 6 IPS 5 8,750 8,

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11 XlbSSMlMO HKP C271 A27 A Career in air traffic control Hong Kong : Government Printer, Date Due JUL

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