Innovative air traffic control training package unveiled

MEDIA RELEASE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Innovative air traffic control training package unveiled

Students who successfully complete air traffic control training at Airways New Zealand’s training hub in Puerto Rico, and who pass the FerroNATS selection process, will have the opportunity to enter the job pool of one of Europe’s premier air traffic services providers.

In a contract signed between FerroNATs and Airways, FerroNATS will also provide instructors, examiners and consultancy services for Airways’ ATC courses being delivered at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico.

This will mean a more seamless transition between university study and on-the-job-training for Airways students at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico. With this agreement, FerroNATS will provide its expertise to help deliver the air traffic control courses expected to begin in late 2015.

Sharon Cooke, Airways Head of Training, says the agreement with FerroNATS signals a paradigm shift in the way the company and its partners market their ATC training packages.

“We are moving away from a business-to-business approach to a more direct appeal to the consumer, in this case next generation ATC students,” Ms Cooke says.

“Offering these students the opportunity to gain an air traffic control qualification at one of the world’s leading aviation establishments, and the chance to enter FerroNATS’ job pool, will have real appeal,” she said.

FerroNATS Managing Director, Gonzalo Cañete, says “It’s a big satisfaction for FerroNATS to have the chance to export our training and consultancy expertise, and to share our know-how with international leading organisations such as Airways and the Inter American University of Puerto Rico.”

“In just two short years we successfully assumed responsibility for the management of nine control towers in Spain, and we now have over 500,000 flights a year under our belt.

“We are pleased to partner with organisations of the calibre of Airways and the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, and to have the opportunity to work collaboratively to nurture and grow the next generation of air traffic controllers,” he said.

Based in Spain, FerroNATS is jointly owned by Grupo Ferrovial, a global leader in the provision of transport infrastructure, and NATS, the internationally recognised provider of air navigation services in the United Kingdom.

The Inter American University of Puerto Rico is one of the largest private universities in the western hemisphere, with a dedicated School of Aeronautics, and has partnered with Airways to provide air traffic control training services at its newly established ATC training campus.

“The mix of FerroNATS expertise, Airways world-class ATC training and technologies and the Inter American University of Puerto Rico’s educational leadership means the training package is well placed for success,” said Ms Cooke.

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