AASL launches radar control course

Colombo: Airport & Aviation Services (SL) Limited, the Government owned Company providing Air Traffic Services in the Colombo Flight Information Region launched its first RADAR Control Course for its Air Traffic Controllers at its Civil Aviation Training Centre at Ratmalana on 27.02.2006.

Vice Chairman of the Company Chandima Rasaputra was the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony while Executive Director Ananda Dharmasiri and D.M.P. Dissanayake, Director, Aerodromes & Navigational Services of Civil Aviation Authority were also present.

Chief Resource Person, Air Traffic Services of the Civil Aviation Training Centre Mr. Leo Fernando said that the event marks the dawn of a new era in the field of Civil Aviation in Sri Lanka and particularly for the Air Traffic Control profession. Fernando said that although RADAR Control has been in operation in Sri Lanka since 1975, training of Air Traffic Controllers in RADAR Control was hitherto carried out overseas while the Civil Aviation Training Center conducted Air Traffic Control training only for other ratings.

This first course is being conducted subsequent to an extensive RADAR instructor training underwent by a team of experienced Air Traffic Control Instructors comprising Mr. Leo Fernando, Mr. S.P.R. Manukulasooriya, and Mrs. Shereena Casseer. All of them will be taking part in conducting the course. With this new capability a substantial saving will be made in training Air Traffic Controllers future.