RESPONSIBLE JOBS IN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29245, 1 July 1960, Page 2

RESPONSIBLE JOBS IN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

Three women at Christchurch airport hold unusual and responsible jobs as air traffic control assistants. One of them, Miss Jean Croucher, . yesterday described her job. “All aircraft have to get a clearance Or permission to- fly at a certain time and at a certain altitude,” she said. This comes from one of the three control areas—Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland—over which the aircraft expects to fly. The assistant receives flight plans from the different centres, and hands them to the control? ler. She keeps him in touch with other centres and with other parts of the airport. So far no woman in New Zealand has become an air traffic controller. Until last year there was 6nly one woman assistant at Christchurch airport. She is Miss R. M. C. Morris,; who has been there since 1942. ’ ,

Although other airports had gradually introduced women on to their staffs, Christchurch had a large number of young men trainees, and there was no room for Women, said the station air traffic officer (Mr F, A. Cox).

Last year Miss' Croucher and Miss M. W. Washbourn, who had had previous experience with this work joined the staff. Miss Croucher spent two years and a a half at Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

“The job is more complex in the United Kingdom, because there are more airways and because the weather is Worse than in New Zealand,” said Miss Croucher. But basically air traffic control is the same at any airport. It is a highly responsible and a very interesting job. “There are no two days alike,” said Miss Croucher. “It requires a keen and alert brain.” Training is done on the job. In England Miss Croucher had six months of training before she was allowed to work on her own. When she came to New Zealand, her training time at Christchurch airport was much shorter.