It was challenging at first for Losalini Ligalevu, as she was one of the youngest air traffic controllers back in the days.

However, she didn’t let that deter her but it motivated and empowered her to prove that she can also be just as capable as the three female Controllers they had when she joined in 2000.

The 39-year-old is an Area/Oceanic Controller (ATCO 1) which is the highest Rating in Air Traffic Control (ATC).

“The “male dominated environment” mindset didn’t bother me because we have very helpful and supportive male officers which has made our work environment collaborative,” she said.

“We provide Air Traffic Control and Alerting service within the Nadi Flight Information Region (the airspace managed by Fiji over 6 million sq km of upper airspace in the South Pacific) to ensure the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of traffic.

“Also provide assistance to aircraft in emergency or distress.”

“Generally, making sure that all flights in this portion of airspace are safe in the air.”

Mrs Ligalevu said she started her Air Traffic Control (ATC) career in 2000 as an Air Traffic Controller cadet with Strategic Air Services Limited which was a private company that provided Air Traffic Services.

“I did my Area/Approach Control (Non-Radar) training in 2002 and half way through my training I was told that my training will be suspended as I was underage (under 21) so I remained an Air Traffic Control Assistant (ATCA) till I was transferred to Nausori Tower in 2003 to resume my training, this time as an Aerodrome and Approach (Non-Radar) Controller and received my first Air Traffic Control license the same year,” she said.

“I worked in Nausori Tower for 11 years where I trained other upcoming controllers till I got transferred back to Nadi to train and advance to be an Area/Oceanic Controller in 2014, the position which I’m currently holding.

“In 2019 I was privileged to be selected as one of the pioneers trained for Area/Surveillance Control using the 1st ever fully automated ATC simulator.”

“This service is yet to be implemented in the live environment. Surveillance Control in Fiji will use ADS-B instead of Radar.”

Her roles is to provide ATC service and Alerting service within the Nadi Flight Information Region , which includes the upper airspace of New Caledonia and Vanuatu Sector (above 25,000ft), and above 9,500ft over Wallis, Futuna, Funafuti and Kiribati.

Interesting fact, she is married to Mosese Ligalevu, who also works for Fiji Airports as the Manager Aviation Security Service, and the couple has a 17-year-old son, Josaia Ligalevu.

She said an advice she was given when she started was to “not to use your lady-like voice, be assertive and authoritative on R.T.”

“It has been one of the best advice ever as a female Controller in a male dominated environment,” she said.

Feedback: shreeya.verma@fijisun.com.fj