Vacancy at Sondrestrom TWR/APP

[jmmoric]

Sondrestrom in Greenland is looking for a certified Air Traffic Controller or student with the appropriate ratings.

Danish language is required to level 4 though, either you have to meet the requirement, or be able to obtain it.

So I guess it's mostly for Scandinavians, hence the use of danish in the job ad:

Mittarfeqarfiit Mittarfik Kangerlussuaq - Mittarfik Kangerlussuaq søger Flyveleder / Flyveleder elev (http://mit.easycruit.com/vacancy/1337683/28902?iso=dk)

[TWR]

Danish language is required to level 4 though

Don't you just love the European Union ? :hmm:

[Timpsi]

Just like Belgocontrol's Psychological Interview for ATC students will only be held in either French or Belgian. :ugh:

[kcockayne]

They are going to have a hard time finding someone who speaks "Belgian" !

[TWR]

Just like Belgocontrol's Psychological Interview for ATC students will only be held in either French or Belgian.

Touché !

I'm afraid that is a requirement to become a federal civil servant. English will suffice for the daily job.

[jmmoric]

I guess english would suffice here as well, but since danish is used in communication with VFR flights..... And we're a one-man staffed unit at times.....

[ron83]

I think english will suffice everywhere in EU, but it's really ridiculous to see how each country artificially protecting their job markets...(and some saying we are short of staff,but you need danish or french etc):ugh: :}
It's time for EC not just standarize atco licences, but also requirements for retirement, no local language requirement etc. if we want atco market to become alive within EU.:cool:

[Crazy Voyager]

Sure, do you fancy telling all the private pilots and all the airside vehicle drivers they have to pay for at least level 4 ICAO english and maintain an English radio certificate?

I'm fairly certain there are still private pilots who aren't allowed to use english RT because they aren't tested for it, at least there used to be a few years back (I had a friend who wasn't allowed to use english RT).

What about vehicle drivers who might not know any English?


It's one thing if you work in high level airspace where English is the only language in use and all pilots have to be licensed to use English, but for the ones of us that work lower down there are people who aren't certified to use anything but the local langauge.

Also there are probably other things to do first, how about actually deregulating the market properly?

[Satellite Man]

"I think english will suffice everywhere in EU, but it's really ridiculous to see how each country artificially protecting their job markets...(and some saying we are short of staff,but you need danish or french etc):ugh: :}"

I second that....

[confused atco]

I think english will suffice everywhere in EU
each country artificially protecting their job markets.

I would disagree with both comment.

The EU consists of about 500 million.
IRL/UK are about 70 million combined.

As is pointed out a great many of the PPL holders never go anywhere near major airports.

Its a safer operation where all communications can be clearly understood by all parties.

Check some of the EU AIP's and you can see where a fluency in the local language is required.

An element of practicality is needed regarding operations in private airfields or even very small regional airports.

Inter sector co-ordination maybe carried out in the native language while inter center coordination is often done through English.


how about actually deregulating the market properly
While great in theory it is not so smart in practice.


all the airside vehicle drivers they have to pay for at least level 4 ICAO english and maintain an English radio certificate?

I am waiting until the market forces see this untapped market for aviation English. €€€€€€€€€.

Not a lot to do with safety or efficiency but all to do with filling someones pockets.

Remember under EASA the unlimited expert is going.
€€€€€€€€€

It might get a bit tedious to colleagues who don't speak English if you just insist on flailing your arms and shouting louder in English to communicate.
You mean talking LOUDER/faster dosent work?:)

[Crazy Voyager]

Isn't that what we've got - or, at least, heading toward - in Europe? A licence that must be mutually recognised by all EU States (plus a handful of others). And if that licence includes the ratings, endorsements or whatever else you want to call it, that are needed to do a job that's advertised - you can go for it. If I don't have Area endorsement, there is little point in me applying for a job that is advertised at an ACC.....just as I'm not going to apply for the job at Sondrestrom because I don't have level 4 Danish.


Sorry, I should have been more clear maybe.

Yes we do have that, and that is a good development. But at an ANSP level the European market is still heavily regulated. Most countries still regulate who can bid for airport contracts and put a lot of restrictions on the market.

If we are to have a deregulated market, it needs to be done properly. Personally I don't ATC should have been deregulated, but at the moment it's neither properly regulated or a free market.

That however might be a better discussion for a different thread I suppose.

[jmmoric]

What's wrong with a national language requirement when you're at a TWR unit?? Remember as told earlier, all the communication with vehicles and so on is conducted in danish (or english if drivers like).

The same goes for communication with VFR flights....

Ofcourse english for everything would be optimal, but english is not that common for everyone as a second language.... yet.

[ron83]

After reading some posts I want to clarify a bit what I meant.

1.Yes,I do agree that English only, can be applied mostly at ACC level( I was talking about that), and I also think that the only exception could be TWR,however english only at TWR is a REALLITY.
I do work in a country where english is NOT a native language, even more,in my country most of the population don't speak it or have very basic level,nevertheless communication at our TWR unit(international airport) is done entirely in english already for almost a year now.
Yes, even those not so young vehicle and Firefighters drivers were able to learn phraseology and some plain language.

2.Doing APP I have never ever needed to communicate in local language with any VFR flight. And the key to it in our country is, if you hold PPL you must hold level 4 english language R/T certificate if you going to operate within controlled airspace.

As is pointed out a great many of the PPL holders never go anywhere near major airports.

Its a safer operation where all communications can be clearly understood by all parties.
It's safer when everyone speaks ONE language and it is english in aviation.
If I jump in my piper or cessna and fly to that regional airfield, I assume it safer if other pilots make position reports in english and not their local language...I would also feel safer if I was sure they understand my calls.:cool:

Inter sector co-ordination maybe carried out in the native language while inter center coordination is often done through English.
Let's take DFS as example,when they lifted german language requirement to fill some position at UAC,they had quite a few applicants who didn't speak german and 4 years later there are still some who don't speak.
So I assume it's SAFER to coordinate in english(anyway all ATCO's have level 4 english as a minimum)if you know that your fellow colleague don't speak german in this case.:hmm:
So for me both of your points is not an excuse to impose local language requirement.

What's wrong with learning at least the basics of the language of the country you're going to be living and working in?
I totally agree,nothing wrong with that, and I personally would learn, BUT only AFTER I got a job in that country and here is why:

a. I can't learn every language of EU country,simply because I don't know if there will be vacancies available in future in that particular country.

b. Even if you learn language,before you go,but there is no vacancy,most probably you forget this language if you not practice it regularly and you can't do it unless you are in that country environment.

and to add, Level 4 assumes not only knowledge of basics of language be honest(there is clear decription what level 4 requires).

What about vehicle drivers who might not know any English?
I think it must be a requirement to learn,to do job,like you as an ATCO must possess medical or english language certificate if you want to do a job.


Maybe it was my dream,but I think I heard somewhere:" One frequency, One language".:ok:

Regards,Ron.:cool: