Airservices is a government-owned corporation providing safe, secure, efficient and environmentally responsible services to the aviation industry. We manage air traffic operations for around 75 million passengers on more than three million flights every year.

Chris Sepasspour – Bachelor of Aviation management

Personal information

• Full name: Chris Sepasspour
• Job title: Graduate|
• Age: 25
• University attended: University of New South Wales
• Degree obtained: Bachelor of Aviation Management

Career History

During the course of completing my aviation degree and obtaining my Commercial Pilot Licence, I managed to work a string of jobs in various fields ranging from customer service to my most recent I.T. role within a Software Development company. These diverse jobs furnished me with the skills I brought to Airservices Australiaas a Graduate in 2011.

Why did you choose Airservices Australia?

The decision to follow a career path in the aviation industry was that of a simple one. Having a strong passion from an early age for anything aviation related, my career history in non-aviation related fields only fabricated this passion. Why Airservices as opposed to other aviation organisations? Again simple, due to its nature of operations, the vast array of roles, career development opportunities and industry exposure, Airservices Australia became the most attractive option. In hindsight, I can say that it has been everything I expected, plus more.

What rotations did you complete?

To date, I have completed two rotations and am currently within my third rotation in the National Operation Centre (NOC). The NOC plays an important role within the industry and in specific, within Air Traffic Control (ATC) as it allows for effective Air Traffic Flow Management through a Collaborative Decision Making approach amongst other roles.

My previous two rotations were also within the ATC group, spending the first three months with the Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) team and the following period with the Air Traffic Management (ATM) Planning team, working on a variety of interesting and insightful projects and assignments. One aspect that has stood out to me thus far in the graduate program is the positive attitude towards support and mentoring from the individuals across the different areas, which fortifies the learning experience.

What has been your greatest challenge? What was your best experience?

My greatest challenge has also been my best experience. As the Airservices Graduate Program consists of 4 rotations, each approximately 3 months in length, it requires a good level of adaptation skills in regards to the nature of work you become engaged in. As I found this to be a good personal challenge, It also shaped a good opportunity to build relationships with different personalities within the organisation, something that serves to be beneficial throughout working in the industry.

What training have you had throughout the graduate program?

 In addition to the compulsory organisational training modules required to be completed by Airservices staff, there are a number of optional training workshops and courses offered which employees can elect to enrol. Furthermore, there is opportunity of further development by requesting to complete external courses not offered by Airservices, if seen as adding to your skill set. The key trainings I have completed thus far include:

  • Leaders Leading Workshop
  • Certificate IV in Applied Project Management
  • Metron Traffic Flow (NOC)

What are your career plans?

Working in such a vast organisation that controls coverage of over 11% of the worlds surface with over 3700 staff, the graduate program has been able to steer me in line with my career aspirations of becoming a future leader within the organisation, particularly within the Air Traffic Control group, and to position myself in a role that allows me to continually grow and take on higher responsibilities.