IFATCA is deeply saddened by the passing of its former Executive Vice President Professional, Martyn Cooper.
Having qualified as a controller in the summer of 1973 at his home airport in Luton, UK, Martyn soon found a passion in training new colleagues. Over time, he was the logical choice to become a unit training officer and the unit’s first Local Competency Examiner. Later, he joined the CAA’s Director of Airspace Policy as the NATS representative in the Terminal Airspace Section and it was from here that he retired in 2009.
He joined the London branch of GATCO shortly after qualifying, showing particular interests in the professional aspects of the air traffic control profession. Consequently, he joined GATCO’s Executive Board as Director Professional. Amongst his many achievements in that function, he was instrumental in the introduction of a scheme to control ATCO working hours, a system that remains in place even today.
It was during his tenure as GATCO Board Member that he also became involved in IFATCA. He chaired numerous Committee C sessions, dealing with professional and legal issues, during annual conferences and was involved in the Federation’s Standing Committee IV, the precursor to the Professional & Legal Committee (PLC). His passion for professional and human factor issues made him serve as IFATCA’s Executive Vice President Professional at the end of the 1990s.
The IFATCA family will fondly remember Martyn for his cheerful personality, humour, knowledge, insight and good common sense. But above all, his was able to transfer his deep passion for our profession onto others.
On behalf of the IFATCA Executive Board, our deepest condolences go out to his wife Carolyn, two sons Christian & Matthew, his two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren.
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