Helena Sjöström Falk is a highly respected Swedish air traffic controller with a career spanning over 37 years across all three key areas of air traffic control: Tower, Approach, and En Route. She is also a certified instructor, recognized for both her operational expertise and commitment to mentoring future generations of controllers.
During the majority of her career, Helena worked as a radar approach controller, Helena managed one of Sweden’s most demanding and strategically vital airspaces. Her area of responsibility included two civilian and two military airports. Among them, SAAB’s military facility, where she on a daily basis controlled test and evaluation flights for the JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft. The second military site, Malmen Airbase, houses the Swedish Air Force’s training academy, requiring Helena to routinely manage the complex dynamics of student pilot operations and instructor-led missions. The last 8 years of her career has been spent working as a watch supervisor at Sweden’s largest ATC facility, Stockholm ATCC, with full
responsibility over the entire operations.
Beyond her operational role, Helena has been a dedicated advocate for the profession. She served as President of the Swedish Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (SATCA) for 11 years, working to strengthen safety standards, labor conditions, and professional development. Her leadership extended to the global stage when she was elected Deputy President of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) in 2019.
In 2024, Helena made history as the first woman ever elected President of IFATCA, a role through which she continues to champion safety, inclusion, and innovation in the aviation sector. She remains a widely respected voice in global aviation policy and professional representation.