Flight information service officers or FISO, provide a

flight information service A flight information service (FIS) is a form of air traffic service which is available to any aircraft within a flight information region (FIR), as agreed internationally by ICAO. It is defined as information pertinent to the safe and efficient c ...

(FIS) to any

air traffic Air Traffic are an English alternative rock band from Bournemouth signed to EMI Records. Formed in 2003, the band consists of Chris Wall (piano, lead vocals), David Ryan Jordan (Drums), Tom Pritchard (guitar) and Jim Maddock (bass guitar). ...

that requests it, or requires it. A FISO is a licensed operator, who most usually works at an

aerodrome An aerodrome (Commonwealth English) or airdrome (American English) is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for publ ...

, although there are some FISOs working in

area control center In air traffic control, an area control center (ACC), also known as a center or en-route center, is a facility responsible for controlling aircraft flying in the airspace of a given flight information region (FIR) at high altitudes between ai ...

s. FISOs must been validated for each aerodrome, or other air traffic control unit they work for.

Air traffic controllers Air traffic control specialists, abbreviated ATCS, are personnel responsible for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic in the global air traffic control system. Usually stationed in air traffic control centers and control ...

are also permitted to provide flight information services to

pilots An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...

Features of the job (UK)

Salary

The average salary for a FISO in the United Kingdom in 2009 was approximately £20,000.

Core skills of a FISO

Communication is a vital part of the job: officers are trained to precisely focus on the exact words pilots and other controllers or FISOs use. As with controllers, FISOs communicate with the pilots of aircraft using a push-to-talk

radiotelephony A radiotelephone (or radiophone), abbreviated RT, is a radio communication system for conducting a conversation; radiotelephony means telephony by radio. It is in contrast to ''radiotelegraphy'', which is radio transmission of telegrams (messa ...

system, which has many attendant issues such as the fact only one transmission can be made on a frequency at a time, or transmissions will either merge or block each other and become unreadable. Although local languages are sometimes used in ATC communications, the default language of aviation worldwide has been English since 5 March 2008, and in the United Kingdom, this is universal. As a result, flight information service officers require an excellent and fluent grasp of English. FISOs must be able to communicate without speech impediment or other disability which would cause inefficiency or inaccuracy of communication.

Area

FISOs working at an area control centre (ACC) will work from a dedicated position, providing FIS on a 'discreet frequency', as with their Aerodrome counterparts. I.E. a frequency other than the main air traffic control frequency.

Aerodrome or tower

FISOs most usually work in an aerodrome

control tower Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airsp ...

, providing a flight information service to aircraft in the local area, and on the ground, and therefore require similar equipment and commanding views of an air traffic control tower at a quiet controlled aerodrome. FISOs have the same powers as a controller to aircraft

taxiing Taxiing (rarely spelled taxying) is the movement of an aircraft on the ground, under its own power, in contrast to towing or pushback where the aircraft is moved by a tug. The aircraft usually moves on wheels, but the term also includes aircra ...

or stationary within the airport, when they are notified as being 'on watch', but may never provide commands to pilots in the air or on the runway(s). See

for full details on the service provided.

Education and license

As a licensed occupation, flight information service officers are required to undertake testing to achieve their lifelong FISO license, issued by the

Civil Aviation Authority A civil aviation authority (CAA) is a national or supranational statutory authority that oversees the regulation of civil aviation, including the maintenance of an aircraft register. Role Due to the inherent dangers in the use of flight vehicles, ...

(CAA). Potential FISOs will be required to undertake the following exams for their license to be issued and following these the license must be validated and maintained to be used: Complete first page of application form SRG1414 Pass, law & procedures exam Pass, navigation & meteorogy exam for a FISO licence – subject to passing the exam Note: applicants also have to have an Aeronautical Radio Station Operator Certificate of Competence

Validation

Validation uses page 2 of the application form SRG1414, to apply for a validation examination by a CAA ATS inspector at a specific aerodrome, provided that a certified log of 40 hours 'hands-on' experience under supervision of a qualified operator, with a maximum of 4 hours in a day (see CAP427 Chap 2 Para 5.2), where no 'on the job' training prior to the issue of the FISO licence at will count towards the validity exam requirements. Upon passing the validity exam, a FISO will apply to the CAA for their FISO licence to be validated, against which the CAA can issue an Endorsement of the licence. This validation process is applicable to one airfield only. Upon moving to another unit, the validation process must be repeated.

Maintenance

To maintain the FISO license, requires some basic requirement to me met: Exercising the privileges of the licence at least once every 90 days A competence check every 24 months In the event that a FISO fails a competence check, they will be immediately informed not to provide a flight information service, and steps will be taken by management, to provide re-training as necessary. Only once a person has passed all these training stages, will they be able to provide a flight information service.

Age restrictions

All flight information service officers must be over the age of 18. Provided that they are medically and operationally sound, there is no upper age limit for a FISO.

Other countries

Finland

Finland uses flight information service officers to run aerodrome flight information service aerodromes, similar to those in the United Kingdom, operated by FISOs.

Ireland

Ireland also uses flight information service officers, whose license expires every 2 years, similar to the license issued by the Civil Aviation Authority in United Kingdom.

Poland

Poland uses flight information service officers to provide radar information service for polish uncontrolled airspace (class G).

References

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External links

GOLF HOTEL WHISKEY: How to become a FISO

CAA, Flight Information Service Office Licensing
Air traffic control Occupations in aviation