For the last fortnight, as drones and missiles have whistled through the skies above Iran and the Gulf, air traffic controllers have been shepherding passenger jets through safer but congested airspace due to ongoing conflicts. A glance at a flight tracker map shows how busy Egypt and Georgia have become.
Working in shifts, controllers coordinate with colleagues to manage the entry and exit of aircraft over their assigned airspace. On peaceful days, a controller might oversee about six planes at a time, but this can swell to double during conflicts. Brian Roche, a retired air traffic controller, notes that during high-pressure times, shifts are shortened to prevent exhaustion.
Recent events, including the sad fate of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, have reinforced the need for vigilant routing messages and alternate flight paths while airlines are making pre-emptive adjustments to avoid conflict boundaries. Airline professionals highlight how crucial their roles become in times where disruption is a constant possibility, striving to keep panic at bay among passengers.
Overall, much of the training within aeronautical procedures proves essential, allowing pilots and controllers to navigate the news of today’s conflicts without chaos ensuing in the skies.
Working in shifts, controllers coordinate with colleagues to manage the entry and exit of aircraft over their assigned airspace. On peaceful days, a controller might oversee about six planes at a time, but this can swell to double during conflicts. Brian Roche, a retired air traffic controller, notes that during high-pressure times, shifts are shortened to prevent exhaustion.
Recent events, including the sad fate of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, have reinforced the need for vigilant routing messages and alternate flight paths while airlines are making pre-emptive adjustments to avoid conflict boundaries. Airline professionals highlight how crucial their roles become in times where disruption is a constant possibility, striving to keep panic at bay among passengers.
Overall, much of the training within aeronautical procedures proves essential, allowing pilots and controllers to navigate the news of today’s conflicts without chaos ensuing in the skies.
