FOR Kadisha and Allison McIntosh, being air traffic controllers is a job they wouldn’t trade for the world. The sisters have always done almost everything together, and so it was no surprise that fate determined that they would also have the same careers.

As teens they both attended Immaculate Conception High, and both went to the University of the West Indies. Kadisha, who holds a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics with a minor in economics, said she’s been in the field since 2005; while Allison, who has a bachelor of science degree in psychology, began working last September.

“When I entered I was the only female out of a group of 10 people who were taken on. I was scared, but it worked out,” Kadisha said.

Both women say they didn’t plan the way their career goals intertwined, but both applied through newspaper advertisements and were successful.

“It is an interesting profession, there’s a certain level of security. Our primary concern is safety. We give information by radio frequency to the pilots about how to control the aircraft. Before a pilot can move he or she needs permission from an air traffic controller,” Kadisha said.

There are different levels to air traffic control — the first being the aerodrome controller who relays information to the approach controller, who then gives the information to the area controller.

Allison, who works at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay as an aerodrome controller, monitors all movement on the ground and in the vicinity of the airport.

“I have to give instructions or permission to go through a gate, give air traffic control clearance, information for departure, weather updates to units, among other things,” she said.

Kadisha, who works at the air traffic control centre in Kingston as an approach controller, deals with aircraft going in and out of the country.

“You’re responsible for all persons in your airspace; without us there’s risk of collision,” she said.

The women explained that the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority employs every air traffic controller in the country, and to enter the field it is best to have a genuine interest in the area.

“It is a lot of reading and exams. You have to be quick and aware of your surroundings. You can’t enter the field blind, it helps to know the different types of jets and to have an interest in what you’re doing. Once you get into it, it becomes a part of you,” Allison said.

“Having been in this environment for so long, it is difficult to go back to a nine-to-five job, because we’ve got so accustomed to the different shifts. It takes a lot and you cannot work fatigued so you have to get enough rest when not at work. The good thing is you get your schedule ahead of time, know your days off and you know when you have public holidays free. It takes brain power, and you have to understand that no two days are alike,” Kadisha said.

They added that the recruitment process involves a series of interviews, psychometric tests, training at the authority and on-the-job training, evaluation and assessment. The sisters also explained that entry requirements include having a first degree, passes in mathematics, English language, physics and geography.

Their main goal is to inspire other young women and to dispel misconceptions about their profession.

“It is not a job well known or spoken about, and many people think air traffic controllers are the marshals who direct the movement of the aircraft on the ground. There’s way more to it,” Allison said.

Added Kadisha: “In my department there are no windows, we’re surrounded by radar screens, it’s like a puzzle and you have to fit the pieces together. You have to always be alert and know that important decisions have to be made. For Allison, she monitors the environment to ensure there are no disturbances.”

For them the key aspect of working as air traffic controllers is communication.

When not at work both women said that when not resting, they spend time reading literature to keep abreast of aspects of their profession or hang out at the movies with close friends.