The holiday season is a special time of year for many, but for some it doesnB次元官网网址檛 really appear all that different - even on Christmas.

At Victoria International Airport, the holiday season is an especially busy time for the staff who work to ensure that travellers have a safe and pleasant experience.

With an increase in the number of flights coming in and out of the airport as more people travel to be with their families and loved ones or go on vacation, air traffic controllers have to work diligently to ensure the safety and efficiency of all aircraft operations.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of people, I donB次元官网网址檛 think, really think about this job,B次元官网网址� Jason Grist, Victoria air traffic unit operation specialist, told Black Press Media. B次元官网网址淣obody sees us B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e just kind of in the background.B次元官网网址�

For Grist, Christmas is just like any other day at the office.

B次元官网网址淧eople often think that Victoria is a sleepy little airport and it can be quiet. But when it gets busy, itB次元官网网址檚 super-complicated,B次元官网网址� he said.

To handle the greater volume of traffic during the holidays, Grist said the air traffic controllers at Victoria International Airport may work longer shifts and use a variety of tools and technology to track and communicate with aircraft, which includes radar to monitor the movement of planes in the air and providing pilots instructions and updates on their flight plans.

In addition to managing the flow of air traffic, controllers in the tower are also responsible for ensuring that all aircraft in the sky are properly spaced and separated, and that the pilots of those aircraft are following the correct flight paths and procedures.

Grist said itB次元官网网址檚 especially important during the busy holiday season, when there may be more planes in the sky and far less room for error.

B次元官网网址淲hat makes Victoria challenging, in particular, is the mix of traffic,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淔rom little Cessnas flying circuits, to high-speed military jet traffic, to helicopters, to light, medium and heavy category aircraft that all have to be spaced differently B次元官网网址� it can become tricky. We also have three crossing runway configurations and we have a taxi way that goes across two of those runways. At the same time, we can have 10 or 15 different things going on at once just in ground control. And then thereB次元官网网址檚 inner tower control and outer tower control. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot going on. One mistake and it could be catastrophic.B次元官网网址�

On top of that, winter means that air traffic controllers may also have to deal inclement weather or other unexpected events that can impact the airportB次元官网网址檚 operations, Grist added.

While Christmas day itself is typically slow in terms of air travel, Grist said it can present it owns challenges for air traffic controllers, like remaining alert and aware.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 always a push to maintain vigilance,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard sometimes when thereB次元官网网址檚 absolutely no planes at the airport if weather is really poor, for instance, to sit and stare at an empty radar screen or just stare at the runways.B次元官网网址�

Grist may have Christmas day off this year because it happens to fall on a Sunday, one of his days off. But the veteran air traffic controller of nearly 26 years is no stranger to spending Christmas inside VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 control tower. While working on Christmas may not be ideal, he said itB次元官网网址檚 all part of the job.

Do you have a story tip? Email: austin.westphal@saanichnews.com.

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