The Air Navigation Order 1989

Licensing of air traffic controllers, student air traffic controllers and aerodrome flight information service officers

70.—(1) The Authority shall grant a licence subject to such conditions as it thinks fit to any person to act as an air traffic controller, as a student air traffic controller, or as an aerodrome flight information service officer upon its being satisfied that the applicant is a fit person to hold the licence and is qualified by reason of his knowledge, experience, competence, skill, physical and mental fitness so to act, and for that purpose the applicant shall furnish such evidence and undergo such examinations and tests (including in particular medical examinations) as the Authority may require of him:

Provided that the Authority shall not grant:

(a) a student air traffic controller’s licence or an aerodrome flight information service officer’s licence to a person under the age of 18 years;

(b) an air traffic controller’s licence which includes an aerodrome control rating, an approach control rating or an area control rating, to a person under the age of 20 years; or

(c) an air traffic controller’s licence which includes any other rating, to a person under the age of 21 years.

(2) Every licence to act as an air traffic controller shall include:

(a) ratings of one or more of the classes set forth in Schedule 9 to this Order specifying the type of air traffic control service which the holder of the licence is competent to provide;

(b) a list of the places at which he may provide the service; and

(c) the type of radar equipment, if any, with the aid of which he may provide the service.

If throughout any period of 90 days, the holder of the licence has not at any time provided at a particular place the type of air traffic control service specified in the rating, the rating shall, without prejudice to the Authority’s powers under article 66 of this Order, cease to be valid for that place at the end of that period, and upon a rating ceasing to be valid for a place the holder of the licence shall forthwith inform the Authority to that effect and shall forward the licence to the Authority to enable it to be endorsed accordingly.

(3) Every licence to act as a student air traffic controller shall be valid only for the purpose of authorising the holder to provide air traffic control service under the supervision of another person who is present at the time and who is the holder of a valid air traffic controller’s licence which includes a rating specifying the type of air traffic control service which is being provided by the student air traffic controller and valid at the place in question.

(4) Every licence to act as an aerodrome flight information service officer shall be valid only for the purpose of authorising the holder to provide an aerodrome flight information service at an aerodrome specified in the licence. If, throughout any period of 180 days the holder of the licence has not at any time provided such a service at a particular aerodrome, the licence shall cease to be valid for that aerodrome at the end of that period.

(5) A licence to act as an air traffic controller, as a student air traffic controller or as an aerodrome flight information service officer shall not be valid unless the holder of the licence has signed his name thereon in ink with his ordinary signature.

(6) Subject to the provisions of article 66 of this Order, a licence to act as an air traffic controller, as a student air traffic controller or as an aerodrome flight information service officer shall remain in force for the period indicated in the licence and may be renewed by the Authority from time to time, upon its being satisfied that the applicant is a fit person and is qualified as aforesaid. If no period is indicated in the licence, it shall remain in force, subject as aforesaid for the lifetime of the holder.

(7) Every applicant for and holder of an air traffic controller’s licence or a student air traffic controller’s licence shall upon such occasions as the Authority may require:

(a) submit himself to medical examination by a person approved by the Authority either generally or in a particular case who shall make a report to the Authority in such form as the Authority may require; and

(b) submit himself to such examinations and tests and furnish such evidence as to his knowledge, experience, competence and skill, as the Authority may require and such examinations and tests may be conducted by the Authority or by a person approved by the Authority.

(8) Every applicant for and holder of an aerodrome flight information service officer’s licence shall upon such occasions as the Authority may require, subject himself to such examinations and tests and furnish such evidence as to his knowledge, experience, competence and skill as the Authority may require and such examinations and tests may be conducted by the Authority or by a person approved by the Authority.

(9) On the basis of the medical examination referred to in paragraph (7) of this article, the Authority or any person approved by it as competent to do so may issue a medical certificate subject to such conditions as it or he thinks fit to the effect that the holder of the licence has been assessed as fit to perform the functions to which the licence relates. The certificate shall, without prejudice to article 73 of this Order, be valid for such period as is therein specified, and shall be deemed to form part of the licence.

(10) The holder of an air traffic controller’s licence or a student air traffic controller’s licence shall not provide any type of air traffic control service at any such aerodrome or place as is referred to in article 71(1) of this Order unless his licence includes a medical certificate issued and in force under paragraph (9) of this article.