z AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST REGION
HOW AFM REGION CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE CONTROLLER
z by Wickel Yanick Elidjé, AFM Region Communications Officer
Like other air traffic controllers throughout the world, IFATCA member associations within the Africa and the Middle East Region never miss the opportunity to celebrate the International Day of the Controller each year on the 20 October. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, most of the member associations from IFATCA’s Africa and Middle East Region had quite somber activities in 2020. But from Lebanon to South Africa, through Senegal, Ethiopia, and Madagascar, ATCOs happily joined the sweet melody of the theme for 2020: “Professional Essential.”
celebration a few days before by web socializing with each other. Their activities included an opportunity to win dedicated face masks, T-shirts, and a watch by providing the right answers to a group of questions. They also organised an excursion to various high schools to describe aviation jobs, including being an air traffic controller.
APCATO (the Association Professionnelle des Contrôleurs Aériens du Togo), the Togolese member association, started their
APCAN (Association Professionnelle des Contrôleurs Aériens du Niger), the member association of Niger, held a confer-
ence gathering around ATCOs, the CAA, the ANSP, the Ministry of Aviation, and the training school. Tanzanians recognized the day by offering sewing machines to inmates. Their Kenyan neighbours organised a team-building activity, including an outing to practise football or soccer. y wickelyannick.elidje@gmail.com
Photos: Wickel Yanick Elidjé
z Photo: Ugandan ATCO ready for a sport game
z Photo: ATCOs from Comoros Island
z Photo: ATCOs playing chess...
z Photo: Celebrating with cakes in Ethiopia
z Photo: Competition between ATCOs
z Photo: ATCOs are also good volleyball players
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THE CONTROLLER