She has been landing planes safely for 21 years

Air traffic controllers are the less glamorous but extremely vital part of air transport. When we think of air transport, we often think of the pilots, the cabin crew and probably the airport officials who stamp your passport, the last people we think about are those guiding the planes on and off the tarmac.
Prossie Zalwango, was just like most of us until she started her aviation training. Twenty one years later, she is not only the third female Ugandan air traffic management supervisor, but she is also the national coordinator for search and rescue (SAR) internationally.
Born to Emmanuel Sserwada, who insisted that his children do science subjects, Zalwango at an early age considered joining the transport industry as a marine captain. Her dream was however, cut short because her family did not have money to send her to the appropriate schools. To compound her problem, being the first born among eight children, she was expected to start earning money to take care of her younger siblings. Zalwango who takes familial responsibilities seriously got a job as a teacher at an international school and started contributing to the family’s upkeep.

Getting into aviation
In 1998, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sent out adverts for individuals interested in joining aviation.
The basic requirements were the knowledge of Mathematics, Geography and English among other subjects. Zalwango sent in her application and was shortlisted.
Later, she was called for subsequent interviews which she passed and was recruited as a trainee officer to undergo specialised training in order to qualify as an officer.
“It took ambition and hard work to get there because I did not have the privilege of having a role model to guide me. But having got in, I was determined to do my best to fulfil our father’s dream of having an engineer just like him in the family,” Zalwango relates.

Challenges
Entering a male-dominated field is challenging, and at the same time air traffic control itself is a challenge.
Zalwango reveals that she has had to continuously prove herself to both her male colleagues and inspire the females joining the industry.
“There is no room for mistakes. I always have to be on my A-game, making sure flights take off and land safely, as lives are at stake,” she adds.
The controllers, in order to facilitate aircraft movements day and night, have to work in shifts. One of the most challenging shifts is working at night. Other complicated shifts include major holidays such as Christmas and Easter where one has to forfeit being with the family to attend to work. Air traffic control is considered one of the most stressful jobs due to the small safety margins to be upheld at all times. This leads to build up of fatigue.
“There is a lot of recurrent trainings, refresher trainings, professional trainings that directly affect your position/promotion in ATC. The pass mark for aviation is always 70 per cent which means one is always in perpetual examination mode,” Zalwango notes.
With this much stress it would be safe to imagine that the remuneration is commensurate to the pressures of the job.
“When I joined CAA, I realised the recruitment and remuneration were quite different. Initially, the salary was similar to that of my previous job. After qualification as an officer, the pay greatly improved. Much as the pay has greatly improved, it does not cover some of these areas. For example while a pilot handles one machine at a time but is paid highly, an ATC, who handles many aircraft at any given time does not receive even half of the pilot’s pay,” she comments on the unfair pay.
She adds that as a woman in a male-dominated industry she finds added pressure to prove that women are also capable of doing this job as well as their male colleagues.

Staying focused
An air traffic controller should always be quick on their feet and always have alternative plans. Most importantly they should stick to procedure; it always requires teamwork while multitasking. An ATC has to walk into work knowing all the possibilities waiting to happen and figure a way to prevent errors with an open mind. Experience is also a major factor in staying alert. The more scenarios one is exposed to, the more comfortable one is to handle any situations. On the part of shift work, rest is an important factor.
“We get usually one day of rest after a shift but this is subject to traffic volumes. When we joined, the traffic levels were smaller and for instance, a night shift could be manned by a single officer. Today, there is need for more rest, medical or health breaks within the shifts to handle fatigue. In advanced countries, the shift last about one hour,” Zalwango reveals.
Qualifications
To qualify for ATC training, one has to have passed with distinction in subjects such as Mathematics, Geography, and Physics at O-Level. Also required is a science based combination for A-Level, with principal passes. For university, a degree of science in mathematics or physics is preferred. Other science based degrees are considered if there are mathematical course units done.
There is a requirement to have a specific level of the English language and pass routine medical examinations. Training in the aviation field is ongoing. The first training Zalwango took was basic aerodrome and induction at the East African Civil Aviation Academy (EACAA) in Soroti. This was an introduction to aviation and majorly developed our aviation knowledge. Attending East African School of Aviation (EASA) for Aerodrome and Approach Control courses enabled her to officially take over shift watch as a fully qualified controller.
“To put this in perspective, after school, there is a mandatory period of not less than six months where you work under a qualified controllers’ license as you attain the required experience to obtain your own. After this, there are three more ratings including Approach Control Surveillance, Area/Airways procedural control and En-route control surveillance,” she explains.
Like pilots, controllers are issued with ATC licenses, which are supposed to be renewed regularly. This is done by doing knowledge tests in the English language and routine medical examination. This is also carried out when one obtains a new control rating.
Summarily, it takes five years to become a controller at the Entebbe Area Control Centre (ACC). Additional promotions include supervisory, which is whenever the need arises.
“As controllers, we have a professional body, Uganda Air Traffic Controllers Association (UGATCA) which is charged with promoting our profession. This includes school tours, career guidance day, controller’s day and the like. I believe this and also other projects like this help bring more females on board.
Similarly, you have many who are inspired to be like you without actual contact. Just like I was inspired by the staff boarding the bus, many will be inspired by seeing my life journey or even reading this article,” she adds.

Advice
Zalwango notes that as Ugandan women, we are always supported and encouraged, and trusted in by our government. Because of this, we give our very best to prove ourselves and to show our appreciation and therefore I encourage all women who want to join aviation as long as you have the qualifications do not think it is only men who can do this, women too, can.
Zalwango reveals she has encountered colleagues who were against her for the simple reason of her being a female ATC, but instead of backing down, she took this as a motivation to want to do her best.
“My family always believed in me and has given me the green light to pursue opportunities that come to me. I do not like to stay put in my comfort zone. Once you focus, get determined and not to let men bring you down you overcome such challenges. When I was joining, there were many males and few women. Most of the girls I joined with left, leaving me to fight on my own. I managed to make it in spite of the intimidation. You must never let people have an impact on what you do and how you do it. Do not give anyone that kind of power over you,” she urges.

Benefits
This job has given Zalwango opportunities to travel the world. “I can confidently say I have travelled on almost all the continents in the world thanks greatly to CAA and ATC specifically. The knowledge acquired throughout this journey is so immense and industry specific that I consider myself able to work anywhere in the world.
Lastly, I would like to add that my journey with CAA Uganda has helped me live a comfortable life. I have somewhere to stay, I have houses, educated my siblings, built houses, and also setting up other businesses,” she says with a smile.

Achievements
I have been part of the implementatind of Search And Rescue in Uganda. I would like to see this unit of ATC grow independently by improving capacity of the unit, manning it as per international requirements and also promoting SAR for all Uganda.

Pioneer
The first female ATC in Uganda was Madina Ndagire. She is still working with CAA as principle Air traffic management officer in charge of safety management systems. Irene Atto, was the second female ATC to join the regulatory body and is currently serving as the manager Air Navigation Services and Aerodromes Standards (CAA). Zalwango is the third and also works as the Air Traffic Supervisor in charge of SAR (ATMS-SAR). Currently they are nine female ATCs.
Zalwango is the first born among eight children born to Agnes and Emmanuel Sserwada of Katoke Kawempe. She was born on October, 9, 1972 and attended Nakasero Primary School. Ndejje Secondary School for O-Level and Kololo Secondary School for A-Level. She then joined Makerere University for a diploma in business management and later obtained a diploma in ICT from Uganda Management Institute (UMI).

Duties
Air traffic controllers typically do the following:
•Provide standard separation between inbound and outbound aircraft within the entire Uganda airspace.
•Provides Flight Information service to all aircraft as regards weather and other proximity hazard warnings reported
•Provide Alerting service to aircraft in need
•Initiate overdue action on aircraft that have delayed in landing or are lost
•Resolve air traffic conflicts before transferring to other ATC Units
•Coordinate and monitor the Aerodrome and Approach control units regarding aircraft emergencies at the airport
•Ensure increased separation between VVIP aircraft with respect to other traffic
•Monitor the serviceability of Navigation Aids
Anticipates and initiates diversion of aircraft when necessary and coordinates with diversion aerodrome or neighboring FIRs
•Issue Airways ATC Clearance
•Keep Approach and Aerodrome control informed of all arrival times of aircraft
•Receive and process Flight Plan information
•Through Communication Center, inform internal aerodromes of flights proceeding there
•Keep next FIR informed of traffic estimates and any changes thereto
•Assist the training of officer in ensuring continuance of training of Area Control trainees for issuance of an Area Control license
•On-job introductory briefing for the area controller trainee(s) who is/are undergoing an on-the-job-training
•Step by step instruction and assignment of duties
•Supervision and monitoring of the area control trainee(s)
•Supervising Approach and Aerodrome Control Units
•Assist callers or redirect those who may require information on any issues
•Maintain the cleanliness of the work area
•Amend relevant documents e.g. AIP MATS when applicable
•Receive and record in Operational logbook of NOTAM information
•Maintain Flight Progress Strips and information on all aircraft
•Check the availability of up-to-date adequate documents and materials to be used in the profession and advise O’C of any insufficiencies
•Ensure that situation reports forms, bird strike forms and/or Form 10 are filled when required and adequately dispatched to the relevant offices
•Participates in the implementation and maintaining of the safety policy and objectives
•Identifies service delivery needs that promote safe operations within the Sections
•Reports all unsafe operations within the operational areas
•Reports on all changes in operational areas and ensures that such changes have the required approvals prior to their implementation
•Participates in Incident Investigations and Reporting
•Participates in the Safety Action Group (SAG) activities
•Adheres to Safety promotion and quality assurance activities within the Section
•Understands the Emergency Response Plan
•Participate in maintaining security of the Nation
•Mount and co-ordinate Search and Rescue Operations with relevant units e.g. military, Police, Govt agencies, marine local authorities, game rangers etc
• Give insight to the general public on issues pertaining to air navigation