If you’ve ever wondered who helps keep the planes flying in and out of northern communities safe, the answer is closer than you might think.
Observer Communicators – specialists who convey critical weather information, runway conditions and other essential information to pilots – help ensure that flights land and depart safely at small airports across Canada’s far North.
Based at Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith, the Observer Communicator program prepares graduates to serve a vital role at Community Aerodrome Radio Stations (CARS) in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut and Northern Quebec. Aurora College is the only institution in Canada that offers this specialized training.
The NAV CANADA training is an intensive 10-week program that blends classroom instruction with hands-on training in radio communications and aviation weather observing. In simulated radio rooms, students practice their skills in real-world scenarios that can range from managing aircraft and ground vehicles to coordinating emergency responses.
Participants in program are normally chosen by ATS Services, the main employer of Observer Communicators, rather than applying directly to Aurora College. Most graduates go directly into jobs with ATS Services or territorial aviation agencies in small Northern communities. Senior instructor George Skippings notes that ideal candidates are residents of these communities, and that the program is designed to build northern capacity.
Aurora College runs four intakes per year—in January, April, July, and October. Students hail from across the territories and beyond, ranging from young adults to people seeking a new career. While the program requires a minimum of Grade 10 education, the most successful participants are curious about aviation, detail-oriented, and possess strong communication and literacy skills.
To learn more, check out Observer/Communicator – Aurora College or ATS Services.