The Air Space Control Department (DECEA) resumed, last week, the execution of an agreement of great relevance for air control: the familiarization flight in the aircraft cabin for air traffic controllers.
On the occasion, two of the organization's air traffic controllers had the opportunity to fly the round trip between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo inside the cockpit.
The Operational Cooperation Agreement is foreseen in the Airspace Control Normative Circular - CIRCEA 100-80 and aims to provide operational exchange between controllers and pilots, through direct , expanding knowledge of the operational performance of aircraft and air traffic services provided in all phases of a flight.
These are the first cabin flight missions of 2019. In addition to participating in the flight, Sergeants William Luiz Cerqueira da Rosa and Joyce de Oliveira Mendonça Barreto visited the destination operational bodies, as provided for in the circular of the agreement – São Paulo Approach Control Paulo (APP-SP) and Congonhas Airport Control Tower (TWR-SP).
“This initiative brings controllers closer to our direct customers, generates synergy and mutual understanding of the system, providing improved service delivery and operational safety in the two main terminals in the country”, says the head of the Operations Division of the São Paulo Regional Flight Protection Service (SRPV-SP) Lieutenant Colonel Chrystian Alex Scherk Ciccacio.
The Cabin Flight
Each flight is carried out with a controller inside the cabin of a commercial aircraft. Routes and flight stages are previously established depending on the sector in which the controller operates and, preferably, during peak hours.
Upon return, each controller delivers a final verification report. It reports information regarding the procedures performed by controllers and pilots in the stages of engine activation, traffic authorization, taxi, takeoff, en route flight, descent and landing.
The document provides space for the reporting of observed information regarding communications with control bodies (were they established and maintained normally?), instructions/authorizations from controllers (were they issued clearly and correctly?), procedures and aeronautical publications used, to the quality of the used phraseology, among other observations.
This time, Gol Linhas Aéreas transported the two controllers in the cabin, each in an aircraft, on the 21st and 23rd of August. The commander of Gol Augusto da Fonseca Viana piloted the aircraft on Sergeant William's return flight.
“It is very important for each one to get to know each other better. For us, it's an opportunity to demonstrate to the controller our situation when it comes to downshifting, when it's time to descend, when it's time to accelerate the plane, to demonstrate in flight the impacts and relationships with the performance of the aircraft”.
“From the cockpit, I could observe the execution of air navigation procedures from the perspective of the aircraft's performance – speed adjustments, sequencing, flight separations. It is an experience that not all controllers will have the opportunity to have, but which is very efficient for improving pilot-controller coordination”, says Sergeant William, air traffic controller at the Galeão Air Traffic Control Detachment (DTCEA-GL), for whom experiences like these are necessary to improve the activity.
“I managed to have a much broader view than I could. The visit to the São Paulo Approach Control was also very worthwhile. The number of aerial movements and the ways of approaching are different and we are always trying to absorb the best practices of each place we know”, he said.
Via - DECEA
