THE ASSOCIATION:

The Air Traffic Controllers Association of Greece (GATCA) was founded in 1961 and two years later joined the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Association (IFATCA).

All A.T.Controllers in Greece (currently about 500) are members of GATCA. Its function is to act as an association for a variety of professional issues and at the same time as a Union, aiming at upgrading and improving the working conditions of A. T. Controllers.

During its over thirty years of existence, GATCA has put a lot of effort to achieve its goals, mainly to harmonise the practice of the A. T. Controller profession in Greece along with the international practices and standards, since its characteristics are of an universal nature.

Unfortunately this important industrial activity and the efforts of ATCA, did not have the desired outcome, so far. The main reason being the fact that a policy for air transportation industry has not been developed to meet the needs of the rapid evolution which was observed at the international level.

THE CONTROLLERS:

A. T. Controllers in Greece are university graduates and join the service after a competition procedure according to the current legal framework for the civil service. A good knowledge of the English language and a health certificate are also required.

The short period (five months) of theoretical training in the HCAA School is followed by an extensive on-the-job training granting qualification for the A. T. Controllers to work as professionals in the system. Qualifications concern the license ratings (tower, approach, area and radar control) according to the provisions on Annex 1 of the Chicago Convention (ICAO).

Since A. T. Controllers are civil servants, they are subject to most of the relevant provisions - such as promotion and remuneration scheme, retirement, annual leave, health insurance, taxation etc. The maximum age of recruitment (28 for men and 26 for women), shift work hours (32 hours p/week) and the allowance for qualified controllers are the only items that differ from the main civil service.

The majority of A. T. Controllers are posted in the Athens area, and about 160 are working in 17 peripheral units at the 40 or so aerodromes operating in Greece. In Athens there are about 180 A. T. Controllers for the Athinai and Makedonia ACC’s.