Learning the art of communication with RAF Valley Air Traffic Control

Our Blue Skies Level 1 students had a fantastic day at RAF Valley on 10^th January. The day was delivered by Air Traffic Control personnel, Fg Off Emily Howell, SAC Ryan Farrell, LAC Tom Dicketts and FS Neil Moncur and the session focussed on communication.

The morning was spent talking about different ways to communicate, the purpose of communication and good and bad ways to communicate.

The students worked in groups, discussing and recording different aspects of communication. Halfway through the morning, the students visited the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, where they listened to the communication between the pilots and the controllers. They learnt that one controller is responsible for the aircraft approaching and landing, another for the aircraft taxiing along the runway and another responsible for the vehicles moving around the airfield, such as a fire engine and fuel tanker. They observed several aircraft landing and taking off. The students also visited the radar room, where the controllers speak to the pilots further afield. The students were amazed by how much information, visually and verbally, the air traffic controllers have to deal with.

In the afternoon, Ryan, Tom and Neil delivered several teamwork activities based upon verbal and non-verbal communication. One activity was for two students to take the role of air traffic controllers, while the others were the Red Arrows, flying their aircraft between Mona and Valley. The Red Arrow students were all blindfolded and had to trust the controllers to guide them into their base using their communication skills. After the first attempt, where a few students bumped into the walls, it became clear that the controllers needed a clear, organised strategy to let one Red Arrow take off and land at a time, with a clear space between them. The second attempt was more successful due to the controllers having a clear plan, while the Red Arrow students learnt the importance of listening carefully.

The day was a great success with the students understanding the purpose of communication as well as making relevant contributions to team discussions and using different ways to communicate. Thank you to Emily, Ryan, Tom and Neil for delivering such an informative session.