Handling air traffic in Arctic conditions

As we meet Jeroshan in the tower at Tromsø Airport, Langnes, an ambulance plane takes off heading south. The traffic in and out of the airport is varied, and the operations that the air traffic controllers are responsible for can at times be hectic.

- Tromsø is one of the airports with the most complicated winter operations, and in that sense, it's a great place to have the training period, or "on the job training," as we call it, says Ståle Johnsen, chief air traffic controller at Tromsø Tower.

When you have completed the theoretical part of the education, you must undergo a practical period at an operational unit in Norway. This usually takes about a year, before you are certified as an air traffic controller.

- During the "on the job training" period, all students must go through four phases, all of which must be passed before you can move on and become a certified air traffic controller. This period builds on the theoretical basic education from the first year of study. The difference from the first year is that during the practical period, you get to experience the air traffic controller profession either in a tower or at a control center. There are also some special Norwegian rules you must study during the practical period, in addition to what you learned in the basic education, Jeroshan explains.

Good Balance Between Work and Leisure

Jeroshan is originally from Bergen, and like most people from Bergen, he is very fond of his hometown. However, Tromsø is a very good place to live and work.

- I really enjoy it here in Tromsø. The city has a vibrant life, many leisure activities, and beautiful nature. Tromsø is a big city, with all the opportunities that entails, while also being close to nature. In my free time, I do a lot of music, and I absolutely have the opportunity to pursue that hobby alongside my job at the control tower at Tromsø Airport.

When choosing a career path, many experience the dilemma between having to follow their dreams and prioritizing friends and a partner. Jeroshan himself has a partner in Oslo and has a thoughtful perspective on having a long-distance relationship.

- Of course, this is a difficult choice when deciding on education and career, but a long-distance relationship works fine as long as both parties are determined to make it work. At the same time, it's not a problem to be able to travel to Oslo on my days off. The fact that I work shifts makes it possible to have several days off in a row. This is a clear advantage of the air traffic controller profession, as I see it.

Read more about the Air Traffic Controller job, education, and entrance exam here!