It was February 1922. In the Croydon area, south of London, a small airport had been established. At that time, aviation was something very new and quite primitive for mankind. At that time, an elevated wooden structure was built at that airport. It was the first Control Tower and, there, the first air traffic controllers got to work.
Primitive conditions, primitive and the way air traffic was managed. Priority to aerial vehicles was given by visual signals from lamps and flags of different colors. Given that there was no other way of communication, information to the pilots was given in the same way, by the waving of colored flags and visual signals from this elevated structure.
A century has passed since then and a lot has changed. Air traffic is chaotic and the people who manage it and guarantee everyone’s safety, Air Traffic Controllers handle the most modern means in the most professional manner. This professionalism, high level and dedication of air traffic controllers in every corner of the planet is honored every year on October 20 by the International Aviation Community.
This year, marking 100 years since that primitive control tower went into operation, is special. For this reason, IFATCA (International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Associations), of which EEEKE is a member, which is the professional voice of more than 50,000 controllers serving in 133 countries since 1961, has established the 20th October to International Air Traffic Controllers Day.
As the ΕEEKΕ announcement states, the anniversary “symbolizes the uninterrupted provision of services offered by the professionals of our sector for the safety of the passenger public and the pride with which we serve the profession”.
