RIP Olga Tarling OAM

[Dick N. Cider]

Olga Tarling, former President of the Australia Women Pilots' Association and Australia's first female Air Traffic Controller has passed away. Many in the ATC industry remember Olga and owe a debt of gratitude for her professionalism and skills lent to ensuring their success as trainees.

Thanks for everything Olga, your unassuming attitude hid a true, and often unsung, pioneer in our industry.

[Centaurus]

I remember her calm and reassuring ATC voice on VHF during flights I did between Melbourne and Tasmania. RIP.

[John Botwood]

Australia's 1st female Air Traffic Controller, Olga Tarling has passed away.

Starting in the mid 1950s, Olga was the first female ATC (and also one of the first on equal pay - which had been won by her male colleagues).
For those that remember Olga she was a friend to trainees male and female alike. Shepioneered in aviation both as an ATC and as a commercial pilot.
She was also President of the Australian Women Pilot's Association.
She will be missed by her colleagues in Exatco (Ex Air Traffic Control Officers), with whom she maintained contact to the end.

John Botwood
President EXATCO

[Lookleft]

Pity about the unfortunate prune name of the original poster.:(

[Blockla]

LL, I'm sure Olga would have seen the funny side of that DNCs handle; if the stories are true she would have; she was a fine pioneer in a (very) mans world.

I never met her, but her legacy will live on forever; perhaps now someone at ASA will recognise her officially; maybe a training annex or the "fancy" "new" tower sim will get named. Maybe Son of TAAATS will be the Tarling system...

RIP to Olga and condolences for her grieving relatives and friends.

[Dick N. Cider]

Handle was based on NAS debates, nothing else...

[Doreen McLeod Nyst]

Today is Olga's cremation and a very sad day for all of us who knew her as a colleague, pilot and good friend. I first met Olga in 1957; she was flying a Tiger Moth in repetitive, precise circuits at Archerfield, training for her Commercial Licence.
She had long red hair and it streamed behind her flying helmet and goggles. She was an inspiration. Goodbye Ollie.