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AIR
TRAFFIC CONTROL |
By
LT Chantal Llora
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FLTLT
Andrew Chapman discusses aircraft movements with an Indonesian.
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Photo
by AB Phillip Cullinan
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NO.
44 Wing has handed over helicopter control to the Indonesians
at Banda Aceh airport.
Since January, six members of 44WG had coordinated more than 300
helicopter landings a day in Aceh, now reduced to about 150 a
day.
They also trained four Indonesian fixed-wing traffic controllers
in helicopter control.
At the handover ceremony on February 27, the director general
of air communications Indonesia presented a traditional fighting
knife to members of 44WG through Brigadier David Chalmers, the
Commander Combined Joint Task Force.
Flight Lieutenant Greg Owens, an air traffic controller, said
the training was difficult, but the Indonesians’ qualifications
made it easier.
As English is the main language for international air traffic
control, the trainees were all able to speak basic English but
were confused with the differences in speech between the numerous
countries that were flying into the airport.
FLTLT Owens said the Indonesians were more than capable.
