People of BNE: Air Traffic Controller Harry Lawler

From flying through the skies to becoming a guardian of the skies, Harry Lawler has turned his lifelong passion for aviation into a rewarding career.

The former pilot, born and raised in New Zealand, is now an Air Traffic Controller for Airservices Australia, operating out of its Brisbane Air Traffic Control Tower, located in the Brisbane Airport precinct.

It is a job that both keeps him on his toes and keeps him coming back day after day.

“I moved over here about 10 years ago (from New Zealand) and I flew around the country,” he says. 

“I was a pilot doing scenic flights, surveys, aerial photography. Then I applied here about four years ago and loved it ever since.

“I’ve been part of aviation since I was about 13. It’s always been a passion. This opportunity came up and I thought it was too good to pass up, and here we are.

“I love that every day is different. No two days are the same. Weather could change, aircraft performance changes, there could be emergencies. 

“You just never know when you come to work what you’re going to have.”

One of the qualities that helps Harry suit his role so well is his level-headedness.

With the unpredictability of the job – the unknown of what waits at the top of the Tower each day, such as weather impacts – Air Traffic Controllers need to remain calm under pressure.

Through shiftwork, they can plug into one of three roles each day: airways clearance delivery, issuing clearance to aircraft going to their various destinations; the ground controller who is taxiing aircraft or repositioning them along the ground; or the aerodrome controller who is in charge of the airspace and the runways.

For Harry, his favourite role is ground controller, but each one presents its own challenges, and he says he knows he has the right temperament for any given day.

“You need to be calm under pressure,” he says. 

“Things will change out of your control. You just need to be able to deal with it and make a decision based on what you have. It’s (about) remaining calm and making the right decision on the day.

“I think (I am calm) and my wife would agree. Nothing fazes me too much.”

In finding his work/life balance, Harry says he spends his time away from the airport playing golf, albeit “not very well”, and making homemade hot sauce, with his specialty a simple recipe of chilli, garlic, vinegar and onion.

He says to maintain that composure in the Tower, you need support systems around you and he has that not only through his wife and his home life, but also through an encouraging and understanding workforce.

“As cliché as it sounds, (what keeps you coming back) is the people you work with,” he says. 

“It’s a pretty good team, good environment and everyone is supportive and fun to be around so it makes the days go a bit quicker, even when they might be busy.

“It’s pretty important (to have support). You go home after a busy day and they’re there to help you unwind. 

“Your co-workers, you might be busy or flat out and they’re a second pair of eyes or ears to help you not miss anything and keep going.”