IFATCA AMERICAS REGIONAL MEETING 2024

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The 40th IFATCA Americas Regional Meeting, hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (TTATCA), took place from 15-17 October 2024 at the Hyatt Regency Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.The meeting brought together aviation professionals and stakeholders from across the Americas region, including representatives from 21 nations; Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, St Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago. Non- IFATCA members from French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Suriname were also in attendance and expressed interest in collaborating with IFATCA and its members association. They acknowledged the benefits and practicality of engaging in the Americas region of IFATCA. This year’s meeting was held in partnership with the Trinidad & Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA). 

At the opening ceremony attendees were addressed by the Honourable Mr Richie Sookhai, Minister in the Ministry of Works & Transport (line ministry for the TTCAA) and Mr Cary Price; Director General of the TTCAA. Both spoke about tentative positive outcomes of such a meeting being hosted in Trinidad & Tobago which did indeed come to pass. 

Female representation was in full force as attendees were greeted by Mrs Helena Sjõrstöm Falk (President & CEO of IFATCA), Mrs Patricia Gilbert (EVP AmericasI FATCA),and Ms Vaneeta Singh (Chairperson TTATCA). Honoured for her contribution to TTATCA was Mrs Ann-Marie Plaza Hosein (first female Chairperson of TTATCA). Also present  was Mrs Pamela Williams (first female Air Traffic Controller in Trinidad & Tobago). 

Past IFATCA Executive members from Trinidad and Tobago were honoured;

Mr. Samuel Lampkin - President & CEO (1998-2002); Executive Vice President-Americas Region (1992-1998) and 

Mr. Alexis Brathwaite - President & CEO of IFATCA (2010-2014) and Deputy President (2007-2010). 

State of the Federation: IFATCA President and CEO Helena Sjöström Falk provided an update on the state of the federation, highlighting key initiatives and achievements. IFATCA EVP AMA Patricia  Gilbert discussed the same but in a regional context.
 

IFATCA 2030+ Task Force: The task force, responsible for developing a long-term vision and implementation plan for IFATCA up to 2030 and beyond, presented its blueprint. The blueprint outlines key areas for improvement including administration, finance, representation, cohesion, development, and influence.
 

IFATCA Mental Wellbeing Task Force: The task force presented its findings from a survey on mental health and well-being in the aviation industry, highlighting the prevalence of stress and the need for support programs like peer support and professional referral.
 

Speak ENGLISH Program: The program, aimed at enhancing English-speaking capabilities of air traffic controllers globally, was presented, emphasizing its objectives and benefits. The Speak ENGLISH program encourages fluency and provides practice opportunities for air traffic controllers to gain 

confidence in using English for aviation communication.

Working relationships: organizations like the ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation), ICAO 

and ILO (International Labour Organization) each play distinct roles in representation of air navigation services personnel. MA’s were encouraged to collaborate with each organisation for their respective expertise in resolving issues within their work environment. 

IFATCA Technical and Operations Committee (TOC): The TOC discussed its work on various technical topics, including multiple remote towers, radio communication failure, and environmental policy review. The committee also highlighted its role in collaborating with ICAO representatives on matters like airspace optimization and technical harmonization.
 

IFATCA Professional and Legal Committee (PLC): The PLC discussed its ongoing work on a range of professional and legal issues impacting air traffic controllers. The PLC researches and produces working papers on key issues to be published and shared with the greater community. Specific topics included high reliability organizations, fatigue risk management, and attracting new  .air traffic controllers.
 

Americas Region Communications Committee: The committee outlined its work on enhancing internal and external communication within the Americas region. Updates were provided on social media engagement, website development, and strategies for coordinating communication efforts .
 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force (EDITF): The task force discussed the importance of promoting equity, diversity and inclusion within IFATCA, highlighting initiatives at regional and global levels, and encouraging member associations to take action to ensure diverse representation.
 

Disaster Preparedness Committee (DPC): The committee discussed the importance of disaster preparedness and mitigation, particularly for air traffic controllers and aviation infrastructure. Highlighted were the four phases of emergency response: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, offering guidance on creating disaster response groups within member associations. 

Presentations from External Organizations 

ICAO: Josue Gonzalez, Regional Officer for Air Traffic Management and Search and Rescue, provided an update on ICAO's activities. Key topics included the transition to Flexible Use of Airspace and Free Route Operations (FRTO), challenges to implementation, and airspace optimization initiatives in the region.
 

L3Harris: The company gave a presentation outlining its work as a global provider of air traffic management systems and services. They highlighted their partnership with the FAA and showcased case studies of their work, including the ADS-B surveillance network and space-based ADS-B surveillance.

 

Two presentations drew significant interest and engagement from attendees.
 

“Occupational Health Impact on Air Traffic Controllers”: explored the impact of job-related stress on air traffic controllers. The presentation emphasized the importance of self-care strategies for mental well-being, highlighting techniques for relaxation, mindfulness, physical activity, sufficient rest, and healthy nutrition.
 

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM): CISM is presented as an "umbrella term for multiple intervention tactics given after a critical incident or traumatic event". It's not a single action but a comprehensive, multi-component model that encompasses strategies from the pre-crisis phase to post-crisis support. Peer-to-peer support as a cornerstone of CISM, emphasizing its effectiveness in facilitating a return to normal functioning after a critical incident. Several reasons are cited for the success of peer support in this.

Thanks was extended to the CISM team at NATCA (USA) for the assistance from their specialist, who aided controllers in Peru (Lima Tower) after a critical incident. This emphasized the need for a network of CISM specialists in the region who can answer the call when needed. 

MA’s shared updates on successes over the past year as well as issues arising in their respective working conditions. One key point of noted was that all MAs acknowledged the NEED for CISM within all ANSPs and to develop a network to be called upon for each other when needed. The Dominican Republic assisting the Bahamas after an incident highlighted how beneficial a CISM network for the region can become. Each MA gave updates on challenges within their respective work environment; common themes were; 

• Understaffing
   
• Discrepancy i n Definition of “acceptable risk” between operational/technical staff and management
   
• Lack of adequate professional development programmes (for technical positions)
   
• Lack of strategic human resource management (managerial positions)
   
• Financial compensation
   
• Public Opinion - Lack of understanding of Government Officers/Posts and the general public on ATC/ANS when dealing with assessing NEEDS versus WANTS of ATCs 

Special mention must be made to Mrs Jaymi Steinberg who received IFATCA AMA Volunteer of the Year award. Each session saw attendees engaging with each other in finding solutions to existing problem and contributing positively to task force and committee members in achieving their respective mandates. All in all the meeting did provide a platform for sharing knowledge, discussing key challenges, and fostered collaboration among aviation professionals in the Americas region. The presentations and discussions reflected IFATCA's commitment to advancing air traffic safety, promoting the profession, and shaping the future of air traffic management. Members from both Guyana and Argentina expressed interest in hosting the next regional meeting; the final host will be discussed among those representatives and the respective VPs of the region.