Wayne Farley's Aviation Blog - The Air Traffic Controllers Weblog

Air traffic controllers worldwide celebrate ATC Day on October 20th. One year ago, I paid homage to the men who helped to shape my career and brought out the best in me. For his enthuiasm and initiave, I shall acknowledge Reno, a next generation professional, and all other like minded individuals.

Reno is not yet an air traffic controller, but is very likely to be part of the next generation of controllers if the stars are correctly aligned. He joined the profession a little over two years ago following his apprenticeship as an aeronautical engineer in his native island of North Caicos.

As Reno’s instructor on his ab initio training course, I am particularly pleased with his posture, given my stated goal to inspire trainees in the classroom rather than to mechanically stand in front of a classroom and blurt out standards and procedures.

Before I explain what I see being exhuded by Reno, it is important to first layout the landscape of the profession in a small jurisdiction, as well as Reno’s journey since entering the gates of ATC.

As a common denominator worldwide, recruiting ATC personnel and being able to retain them is something just short of a miracle. In a small jurisdiction such as the Turks and Caicos Islands with a native population circa 15,000; the scale slides rapidly in the negative direction. A wide field of potential candidates quickly gets wittled down to a fraction after the interview, aptitude tests, medical exams, and rigorous training regimen. There is also the lure of equal or better salaries in a much less stressful job which robs the ATC profession of quality candidates.

Reno is part of a group that represents less that 25 percent of cast members that lined up at the ATC gate more that 2 years ago. Once in the classroom, Reno was slow out of the blocks, but his consistent development over the weeks, months, and now years, is admirable.

I spend relatively much less time in the control tower now, but on almost every occasion when our tracks are crossed, Reno does not hesitate to confront me with a presentation or questions on past aviation accidents/incidents that he may just researched. Some of the case studies predates my tenure in the profession, and just to be able to keep up with him, I am forced to do my own research on those matters.

Of particular interest to Reno when he disects these incidents and accidents is the human factors element. He’s interested in what went wrong and what lessons can be learnt for all of us in the profession. His most recent research focused of what happened the night when John F. Kennedy Jr. crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 1999.

Reno goes beyond mere research. Every new aircraft type or aerodrome that he experiences is usually the subject of his simulated flights when he sits in front of his computer with the Flight Simulator application running.

Reno’s posture puts me in an emotional overdrive. I am humbled, excited and flattered all at once. Humbled because I thought I was an aviation powerhouse. Excited because I believe his attitude can go viral and inspire fellow next generation controllers. And flattered, because he’s imitating my own actions.

Having spent more than 2 decades in the profession and not seeing too many Renos is very concerning to me. Reno’s display of initiative and enthuiasm amoungst today’s youngsters should not go unrecognized.

If an incentive program had existed, it is my firm belief that Reno’s name would be a permanent fixture on the list of persons to be awarded. It is my solemn hope that talent scouts don’t get to Reno before he is given the chance to become an outstanding air traffic controller.

Of course there are many Renos out there that I haven’t met, but I’d love to hear about them. Who is the Reno in your jurisdiction?