Air traffic controllers in France are set to strike on Thursday 19 March in a national day of strike action.

Consequently the French Civil Aviation Authority, Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) is limiting the number flights handled for each airline during that day.

Air France has confirmed it will operate all of of its long-haul flights.

On its short and medium haul network, Air France will operate nearly all its flights at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and 70 per cent of its flights at Paris-Orly, but warns that some flights may have to be cancelled during the day, and other delays may occur.



Air France is re-assuring its passengers that it will ensure that all its passengers travel.

Air France ground and sales staff will do their utmost to inform passengers if a flight is cancelled and, if necessary, offer an alternative flight either on Air France, on KLM via Amsterdam or one of the SkyTeam partner airlines.

Passengers are requested to log on to www.airfrance.com for all the latest information in the flight status tab or contact their travel operator.

Passengers in France may also call Air France on 3654, or, send a text message on their cell phones to 6 3654 indicating their flight number (e.g. AF2062).

Air France flight schedules will be updated on March 19th at noon.

Passengers on other airlines should check with their respective airlines. It will be a tough day to fly in France.

Air traffic control is one of, if not, the most stressful job in the world. Air traffic control officers (ATCOs) have to be constantly on the alert, even when pilots make a mistake. We as passengers never hear of their deeds, only of their mis-deeds. In a tribute to ATCOs around the world, I present a collection of videos and audios.

We begin with a happy ATCO at JFK airport in New York.

Humour is always a good stress buster, and mothers-in-law appear to be a globally common source of pain, as this conversation between a JFK ATCO and a Virgin Atlantic flight demonstrates.

About a year ago, there was extreme commotion in the Indian skies with ATCOs bitterly complaining about the expatriate pilots, and their lack of English language skills, the universally accepted language of the skies. This audio exchange between Air China 981 and JFK ATC demonstrates the language problem.

Sometimes it is the accent or idioms of the ATCO that pilots do not understand. Given the busy conditions at most airports, it leads to confusion, then irritation, and anger, as we hear in this conversation between Etihad 503 (UAE), Asiana 222 (Korea) and a JFK ATCO.

And then there are times, where pilots really screw up and need to be rescued, as this re-creation of a scary incident at Providence, Rhode Island.

And as a closing, I am sure you too will feel sorry for this JFK ATCO, who is having a really bad day in the office.

So please take some time, and send a thank you letter to the ATCOs at your local airport.