It was Monday, 1st of April, my first day at Parafield. The sky was overcast with a low cloud ceiling that made a rare quiet day at the airport. While training continued as planned, we were lucky enough to squeeze in a visit to the ATC tower.
Controlled Aerodromes
Parafield operates as a controlled aerodrome during work hours, which means air traffic controllers manage all aircraft movements, from ground ops to circuit, inbound and outbound flights. After hours, it reverts to CTAF, where pilots self-manage their communications, much like what I experienced at White Waltham in the UK.
The Radio Button and the Great Freeze
Ahhhh, the radio. That tiny button has the uncanny ability to suck every gram of soul out of a student pilot. You rehearse what you’re going to say, convinced you’ve got it down. Then you press the button, and suddenly, pooof, your brain turns to mush, words vanish.
I’ve been there. Once, I was on USI. But when I keyed the mic, I confidently said, “USL request engine start for circuits.” Innocent enough aye? Except that the actual USL was also on the ground, requesting the same thing. Cue confusion.
The ATC, understandably baffled, roasted poor USL for a mistake they didn’t even make. (Sorry Jack) Meanwhile, I sat there, mortified, realising my stupid mistake. After sorting it out, the controller turned to me with a tone that was firm but not unkind, making sure I’d learnt my lesson: “Are you sure you can say your call sign correctly?”
I wanted to sink into the floor. But moments like these are part of the learning curve, they’re humbling and unforgettable.
A Glimpse Inside the ATC Tower
Stepping into the ATC control room was like entering the nerve centre of the airport. What caught my attention immediately were the paper strips.
If you’ve ever watched Air Crash Investigation, you’ve prolly seen these strips in dramatic re-enactments of older incidents. I assumed they were relics of a bygone era. But nope.
So each strip was carefully annotated to track a flight’s details. It also was neatly colour-coded, with different colours indicating specific operations, such as circuits. Controllers slid them along a rail system to hand them off, almost like passing a checkout divider at a supermarket. It was a simple yet elegant way to keep track of the constant flow of aircraft.
And then there was the view. The tower, just 4 or 5 stories above the ground, offered an unobstructed panorama of the airport. Every runway, taxiway, and windsock, even the furthest ones, were perfectly visible. It was mesmerising to see the operations laid out so clearly from above almost like a giant board game.
As I sit down to write this blog, I can’t help but feel wee bit of regret, I should’ve asked for one of those used strips as a keepsake. Something so simple yet so integral to the operation of the control tower would have been a meaningful reminder of this visit.
Behind every radio call at Parafield are the unseen faces of ATC, guiding us with precision and care. Stepping into their world was a humbling reminder that aviation is as much about human connection as it is about flying.
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