IFATSEA Proclaims November 12 as International Day of the ATSEP

IFATSEA Proclaims November 12 as International Day of the ATSEP

PRESS RELEASE

The International Federation Air Traffic Safety Electronics Associations is pleased to proclaim November 12 as the International Day of the ATSEP. Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEPs) perform an essential role in the installation, configuration and maintenance of air navigation services technologies.

“Were it not for the work of these professionals, today’s air traffic management would be little more than science fiction. The members of IFATSEA bring the air navigation infrastructure to life” says Daniel Boulet, IFATSEA’s President.

ICAO estimates more than 3.2 BILLION passengers travelled by air in 2014. That represents nearly 9 million passengers each and every day. And every one of those flights relied on the services and underlying infrastructure of an air navigation service provider somewhere on the globe.

Few professions are as rewarding as that of an ATSEP. “We are proud knowing that the ILS has been properly calibrated, air traffic controllers have accurate and up-to-date information and that service was quickly restored in times of outages or natural disasters” says Thorsten Wehe, IFATSEA’s Executive Secretary.

November 12 also serves to remind everyone how the profession has changed and how it will change in the future. Space-based surveillance will have a profound impact on the aviation industry and our work. “Over the long term, fewer ATSEPs will be required to maintain ground-based navigational aids but ATSEPs are ready to embrace this challenge” says Mr Boulet.

IFATSEA represents nearly sixty ATSEP associations worldwide and is the authoritative voice on the competence of air traffic safety electronics personnel.