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The GUILDE LUXEMBOURGEOISE des CONTROLEURS de la CIRCULATION AERIENNE is founded at its first meeting. It counts 10 members ready to defend rights and duties of the ATC controllers in Luxembourg and thereby enhance cooperation and safety in Luxembourg aviation.
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- Establishment of first contacts with related authorities, associations and airline companies.
- Talks with airport management in order to discuss organization and personnel requirements for the ATC service, which lead to a reorganization of airport services in 1964.
- In 1960 GLCCA is a key association in the foundation of EFATCA (European Federation of ATC Associations) and is a founding member of IFATCA (International Federation) at the end of 1961.
- In an effort to get all Luxembourg aviation concerned parties together, GLCCA organizes an aviation films screening in October 1969. Among others, the event screens the official NASA film of the only 4 month earlier APOLLO XI moon landing to the interested audience (kindly procured by U. S. embassy).
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- A lot of work and organization is needed to prepare the 1973 IFATCA conference in Luxembourg at Alfa hotel. This conference is a much needed forerunner to the 1973 annual meeting of IFATCA in Reykjavik, Island.
- Request for and establishment of familiarization flights and government flights for ATC controllers and ATC delegates.
- Request for and talks about controllers licenses and standardized qualifications.
- Request for and collaboration to the edition of a laid down procedures ATC service manual (ATCI), today known as MATS (Manual of Air Traffic Services).
- Request for and introduction of new primary Radar, including related procedures.
- Request for collaboration with the authorities in the design of new procedures and technical equipment.
- Identification of the upcoming problem of lack of personnel due to increase of traffic and lack of proper funding.
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- In January 1980 GLCCA holds a 20th anniversary meeting at the Sheraton Aerogolf hotel.
- Poor and degrading working conditions, technically as well as socially, lead into a stand-off with ATC service and airport management.
- In 1986 the situation evolves into first industrial action of state employed ATC controllers in Luxembourg, in collaboration with neutral union OGB-L in which GLCCA finds a new partner. Luxembourg airport comes to a standstill.
- This action leads into reorganization of ATC service management and eventually the construction of all new technical facilities including new Radar OPS room and 35m tall new control Tower.
- Medical exams are introduced and related in the controllers pay.
- Request for separate controllers career plan inside the state organized airport administration.
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- Lack of personnel and separate career plan are still issues in the 90ties.
- Ongoing tough talks result into first official study, performed by EUROCONTROL, concerning personnel requirements for ATC service and on job working organization. This study is converted into a plan which would trigger GLCCA work well into the next century.
- In June 1993 inauguration of new facilities and TWR.
- Staffing is improved according to plan. Evolution of staff is to be considered into the future and perhaps a new plan is to be initiated.
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- Staffing and career plan still generate discussion.
- New regulations on training and qualification of ATC controllers take GLCCA to work this domain, organize and take courses, edit new documentation.
- UTP(Unit Training Plan) according to ESARR5 regulations is presented.
- A competency scheme (UCS) is presented.
- To improve maintenance of technical equipment and working conditions, equipment reports are issued on a regular and standardized bases to the ATC management.
- Collaboration in the design and implementation of new tools for ATC operations (VCS, ADD, Digistrips).
- Improvement of safety management, instruction and awareness.
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- Over the years, GLCCA had many memorable talks with state officials among which were the following:
Marcel Mart, Josy Barthel, Rene Konen, Marcel Schlechter, Marc Fischbach, Jean-Claude Juncker, Jacques F.Poos, Robert Goebbels, Mady Delvaux, Henri Grethen and Lucien Lux.
Many arguments have been exchanged in the course of time but at the end, history shows that the point of view of GLCCA has always been reasonable.
Prospective thinking combined with common sense and a thorough knowledge of ATC operations is hard to beat.
Also one simple and generally applicable reason is this:
If, at the bottom line and as a result of workmanship, you want to have quality and steadiness,
you must have satisfied and motivated workers. GLCCA stands for happy and motivated air traffic controllers. The result is Safety and Continuity of service.
Take away satisfaction or motivation, end up with a mess.
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- Improving understanding and collaboration between ATC units, technical services and management.
- Request for a GROUND RADAR to improve safety in bad weather conditions.
- Request for DATALINK clearance delivery to improve efficiency.
- Ongoing implementation work on new ATC tools.
- Reconsideration of staffing problem due to ESARR5 obligations.
- On 17th December 2009 Luxembourg ATC Guild celebrates 50th anniversary (Note: 17th of December is the same date on which the Wright brothers made their first powered flight , exactly 53 years before Luxembourg ATC Guild was founded !!).
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