HUMAN FACTORS IN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

Ectoras Symeonides is a senior Air Traffic Controller, safety expert, and Human Factors educator with over two decades of frontline and strategic experience in aviation. He holds a Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, specializing in Telecommunications and Biomedical Science. He also earned a Master’s in Mobile and Satellite Communications from the University of Surrey, and an MBA with high academic performance from the University of Limassol, where his thesis focused on Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS). Active in operational ATC since 2002, Ectoras has served across aerodrome, approach, and en-route control environments. For over a decade he has also been an On-the-Job Training Instructor (OJTI), mentoring the next generation of Air Traffic Controllers through practical real time training. As a certified safety specialist, he has led complex safety-critical projects, following intensive training with EUROCONTROL in safety assessment, system integration and Human Factors. His expertise combines engineering precision, regulatory compliance, and a deep understanding of human performance in high-stakes environments. Ectoras has also represented Cyprus Air Traffic Controllers' Association for three consecutive terms across Europe and International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Association conferences, contributing to policy, safety culture, and operational standards on a multinational level. A passionate advocate for Human Factors, he has been teaching the subject since 2017, helping operational personnel, managers, and trainees navigate the complex interplay between human capabilities, system demands, and safety resilience. Through this book, he shares not only accumulated knowledge but also lived operational insight— bridging the worlds of science, safety, and service with clarity and conviction.