In commemoration of the 2020 World Air Traffic Controllers’ Day, the Nigeria Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has commended the commitment of its members in rising above challenges in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic that hit the Aviation Industry more than any other.
World Air Traffic Controllers’ Day is an event observed annually in commemoration of the historic day of 20th of October 1961 when the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (IFATCA) was founded.
Beyond serving as a reminder about the vision of the founding members, the annual ritual also celebrates the men and women who 24/7 help make air travel the safest possible mode of transport by keeping an eye on each and every aircraft movement and safety of passengers in their bowels at take-off, enroute and landing, across the aerodrome and airfield.
NATCA in its low key celebration remembered and mourned the demise of its members within the year while also commending the commitment of NATCA members as they rose to the challenges of the pandemic period.
“Like every sector of the economy, COVID-19 has had a telling effect on aviation industry which casts a sober effect on the World Air Traffic Controllers’ Day year 2020. Even in the pall of low-key celebration, we remember and mourn the demise of our members within the year and therefore extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of departed colleagues and indeed other Nigerians, in the spirit of celebration of this year’s event.
“In the face of the novel challenge of COVID-19, which brought everything to a standstill; air traffic volumes hitting an all-time low resulting in strains in the aviation sector, we commend the commitment of NATCA members as they rose to the challenges of the pandemic period.
May we also use this opportunity to express our thanks to everyone in the aviation sector for their understanding, while also reassuring them of NATCA’s maximum cooperation and support that will make all us wade through the challenges ahead
“There is always an opportunity in every crisis once we take a moment in time to analyse the true situation unfolding around us. In counting ourselves lucky to witness yet another World Air Traffic Controllers’ Day, we should see this as a unique opportunity to forge ahead in our journey onto higher grounds with our collective resolve as a body to rise above our challenges and a clear vision to expand the frontiers of our association within the framework of government policy in the aviation industry,” a statement signed by the President of NATCA, Abayomi Agoro, read in part.
