I help land 2.5 million planes a year, so could you

2 hours ago

Matt GravelingSwanwick

News image — Amanda Rhodes is part of the air traffic control team in Hampshire that manages 2.5m planes a year

BBC A woman smiling in a large room with banks of computers at desks. People are sat at large screens wearing headphones. She has her dark hair tied back and is wearing a white vest top and two necklaces. She has a tattoo on her shoulder. — Amanda Rhodes is part of the air traffic control team in Hampshire that manages 2.5m planes a year

"My job is safety. You make sure everyone gets in safely, everyone gets out safely," says air traffic controller Amanda Rhodes.

Her regular role at the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) in Swanwick, Hampshire, is looking after the airspace above Stansted and Luton: "I will sequence those aircraft in the arrival order.

"No one gets any preferential treatment. As they arrive, I will then sequence them, give them descent. You'll see everyone in a nice, neat line coming into land."

NATS is one of two operational control centres in the UK, the other one is in Prestwick, Scotland, but at Swanwick they deal with around two-and-a-half million flights every year

That is expected to rise to three million by 2030 and more air traffic controllers are currently being recruited.

Claire Burton has long blonde hair framing her face. She is sat in front of a row of computer screens. She is wearing a dark jacket and has black rimmed glasses and a small gold pendant around her neck. — Claire Burton says potential recruits require five GCSEs, grade four and above, including maths and English.

Claire Burton, Head of Talent Acquisition and Onboarding at NATS, is one of those in charge of making sure this demand is met: "We've got 800 based here and it's split into two areas we've got area control and terminal control as well.

"There isn't a mould for an air traffic controller we've got people that have come from all walks of life.

"We've got art students, we've got people with PhDs, we've got market traders.

"We'll make sure that you've got the skills for us to be able to then train you to be an effective and safe air traffic controller."

The need for more staff is the latest change on a site which first opened in 2002.

Controllers manage the high-level airspace above England and Wales, that, broadly speaking, is all aircraft flying above 20,000 feet.

A woman wearing a white vest top is sat at a large computer screen covered in green diagrams showing the position of planes. There is a row of chairs and computer terminals that are empty behind her. She is wearing headphones and has tattoos on her shoulder and back. — Amanda Rhodes has been working at the Swanwick site since it opened in 2002

Rhodes has worked at Swanwick since the new site opened and now new recruits could join her: "I didn't go to university. I didn't know what I wanted to do. I didn't even realise that air traffic control was an option.

"It was my mum that saw it suggested I apply and it was only then that I discovered what air traffic was I had no idea what was out there."

NATS say people can apply by taking a number of online aptitude tests and those who are successful for the trainee course will start on around £31,000 a year.

There is a minimum age requirement of 18 and potential recruits require five GCSEs, grade four and above, and that must include maths and English.