Amazing Airport Race gives family members of ANS personnel opportunity to see Air Traffic Control Centre activities

The greyest day of the year was not boring this year, as the Fintraffic ANS family day brought together 70 enthusiastic family members of air control personnel at the Air Traffic Control Centre. The day offered family members the opportunity to learn about the activities of the Air Traffic Control Centre’s different units and try their luck in a paper airplane throwing competition. Why was the decision made to organise a family day? How successful was the event and what’s in store in the future?

It is common knowledge that bringing visitors to the Air Traffic Control Centre is challenging, and air traffic control visits have long been limited to people in the aviation sector. Family day, which was organised in mid-November, made it easier to bring visitors to the air traffic control centre, when the personnel’s family members were given the opportunity to sign up for a pre-arranged event. Every participating employee was able to bring a maximum of five visitors with them for the day.

“During family day, our personnel’s family members had the opportunity to see what their mother, father, godfather, grandparent or even a neighbour does in practice at work. The event was held at the quietest time of the week, and the programme ended before Saturday's afternoon rush. In this way, we were able to ensure that the day did not disrupt air traffic control or bother those working during the day,” says Jorma Karila, one of the Fintraffic Air Navigation Services air traffic controllers responsible for organising family day.

The day’s programme included the Amazing Airport Race and a paper airplane competition

The programme for the event was planned in line with Fintraffic's values together with the different unit at Air Navigation Services. During the day, visitors got to visit the Air Traffic Control Tower, the Approach Control Office, the Area Control Centre, the Airspace Management Cell, the pre-flight Information Service Centre and Avia College. Each unit was given the same amount of time to showcase its own activities.

"The visit to different units was interesting for the participants, but it also helped strengthen our spirit within air navigation services: even though we work in our specific units daily, we are all one big team," Karila says.

The theme of the family day was Amazing Airport Race. Participants were given a photo clue when they arrived at the event that led them to the first unit to visit. Visitors were then given a clue at each unit they visited which led them to their next destination, and finally the images formed a collage of all ATC units. Various surprises, such as Fintraffic sunglasses, a reflector and delicious treats, had also been hidden in the envelopes.

"We made an effort to plan the day’s content in a way that would also make it memorable for the youngest family members. In addition to the visits, visitors also had the opportunity to take part in a competition in the break room where they could build their own paper plane and test how accurately they could throw it at the target. The people with the best aim were awarded with Starbucks' coffee coupons,” Karila continues. 

A similar family day is being planned for next spring

The event was a great success, and the guests were amazed at how many different activities are associated with smooth and safe air travel. 

“As an organiser, the happy faces of children and adults were the things I’ll remember in particular about family day. The staff who were working during the event maintained a positive attitude even with the additional noise and bustle and everyone was excited to show their own workstations. If something could be improved, the view would have been better from the tower had the weather had been clear and sunny. On the other hand, the event was held on the greyest day of the year, so the weather was just as promised,” Karila ponders.

As demand for the event was high and many of those who were interested in the event were unable to participate for various reasons, a similar event will be planned for spring 2024. Now that we’ve built a good frame for family day, it will be easy to repeat it in the future.

“This event was fun to plan and organise together. I would like to thank my colleagues Eeva Ek, Markku Puumalainen and Nina Norrgård who took part in organising the event, our supervisors and Fintraffic as a whole. It is great that our employer supports the arrangement of this type of events during working hours, as they make even the smallest units visible and help to us see our colleagues from a new angle. I hope that word will spread and next spring the event will be booked full," says Karila.