Gabi Ofir, Director General of IAA: “The State of Israel can be proud of its air traffic controllers. The issue of flight safety is a top priority. IAA invests a significant portion of its budget in infrastructures and operational improvements.  It is aware of and sensitive to operational safety needs, which receive high priority in budget considerations, in full coordination with agencies of the Ministry of Transport, including the Civil Aviation Authority”.

Every year, the Safety Award ceremony constitutes the highest recognition of the IAA’s Director General and managers, the Flight Safety Department and members of the Union for the air traffic controllers’ work. The ceremony expresses appreciation for the controller who performs his task over and above the call of duty, in order to maintain a superior level of flight safety. In the ceremony that took place this week, three air traffic controllers were granted Safety Awards, and another 4 received honorable mention.

In his congratulatory speech, IAA Director General Gabi Ofir said: “The ceremony in which the Safety Award is presented to air traffic controllers who prevented dangerous situations in the aerial zone, and enabled safe air transport, is an expression of gratitude and appreciation for the human factor in IAA, and to the people behind the technology – Israel’s air traffic controllers”.

The air traffic controllers who received the Safety Award were:

Rotem Talmi of Ben Gurion Airport. On January 27, 2004, in stormy, rainy weather with limited visibility, Rotem served as ground controller at Ben Gurion control tower. With his extraordinary alertness to occurrences in an area outside his sphere of responsibility and in his prompt action, Rotem averted a dangerous situation and possibly even an accident. For this he was granted a certificate of merit.

Yaacov Gottlieb, Control South. On the night of July 17, 2004, Yaacov was on duty as controller at the Control South post. A twin-engine Piper (PA-23) that had taken off from Eilat Airport on its way north, deviated from its course and was perilously approaching a mountainous area. Even though the incident occurred outside his field of responsibility, he immediately requested the Eilat tower to put him through to the aircraft, and gave the pilot instructions that put him back on course. With his alertness to occurrences outside his sphere of responsibility and in his swift action, Yaacov Gottlieb prevented a serious situation. For this he was granted the Safety Award.

Matti Hershkowitz, Herzliya Tower. On August 10, 2005 Matti served as air controller at the Herzliya control tower. A Cesna (C-337) with retractable landing gear went into its final approach on landing strip 29 with its landing gear still retracted, and requested permission to land. Matti noticed that the aircraft was about to land with retracted wheels, and instructed the pilot to turn around and circle, thus preventing an otherwise inevitable accident. With his alertness to a situation that was not within his responsibility and by taking decisive action, Matti prevented an aerial accident, for which he was awarded the Safety Award.

In addition, four air traffic controllers were chosen to receive special merit certificates: Moshe Hadar of Control South; Leonardo Kantor of Control South, Uri Malchi and Ronen Gold of Control North.

Gabi Ofir, IAA Director General, stated: “On the issue of safety, professionalism is the key word. Special commendation of the controllers, combined with preventive measures and learning from past events are the way. I am proud of the air traffic controllers who are a model of professionalism and the implementation of strict safety regulations”.