PJIAE
Air traffic controllers had a lot of odds stacked up against them when
they were getting ready to host their Air Traffic Controllers Day on
October 18th 2008, but they still managed to put together a successful
event. “We had to work around Hurricane Omar,” said Sophia Rismay, who
organized the event together with Aurillio Baly and D’Angelo Gumbs.
Controllers Day is marked annually. Local controllers usually celebrate
their day amongst themselves, with invited guests. “This is our day to
come together, unwind, relieve stress, share experiences and promote
unity,” said Baly. “This is our day.”
This year they decided to try a different approach. “Last year four of
our controllers went to Antigua where they were hosting a celebration
and it was very nice; so we extended invitations to controllers from
other islands to come celebrate with us here,” explained Rismay.
Invitations were sent to all airports in the region the St. Maarten
tower has contact with, such as Anguilla, Antigua, Statia, St. Kitts &
Nevis, Grand Case, San Juan, Tortola and St. Thomas; controllers from
Antigua and Statia were able to come.
Sponsors like Winair and American Airlines helped by lowering fares for
invited controllers. “We all chipped in, using our contacts in the field
to put together an exciting program for our visitors,” said Rismay. But
then Hurricane Omar formed and brushed past St. Maarten in the early
hours of Thursday October 16th.
“People were supposed to start arriving that same day, and we had
planned our dinner for Saturday,” said Rismay. The island tour that was
planned for Thursday had to be cut short and the dinner had to be
diverted to Fusion Restaurant on Front Street. “They gave us a perfect
event,” said Rismay.
Though not all invitees were able to make it, the controllers still
classified their celebration as a success. “I have been working as a
controller for a while now and over the years I have got to know a lot
of people, but by voices and initials. Now I got to know some faces and
made some new friends. Those that couldn’t make it were upset they were
not here, but there will be other opportunities,” said Bailey.
PJIAE
Air traffic controllers had a lot of odds stacked up against them when
they were getting ready to host their Air Traffic Controllers Day on
October 18th 2008, but they still managed to put together a successful
event. “We had to work around Hurricane Omar,” said Sophia Rismay, who
organized the event together with Aurillio Baly and D’Angelo Gumbs.
