If you’ve ever watched an aircraft land smoothly at Saint John Airport, there’s a good chance Mark Sommerfeld had a hand in making it happen, even if you didn’t hear his voice.
A Flight Service Specialist (FSS) with NAV CANADA, Sommerfeld has spent 26 years helping guide aircraft safely through Canadian skies. “We’re here to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of aircraft,” he explains. “But we don’t control pilots, we advise them.”
That distinction is key. Unlike air traffic controllers, who issue direct instructions, FSS professionals provide critical information, everything from aircraft positions to weather conditions, so pilots can make informed decisions. Sommerfeld notes that a single flight between Saint John and Toronto will typically involve communication with 10 or more different air traffic controllers and flight service specialists along the way. “It takes a lot of people to keep it safe and efficient,” he says. FSS professionals also manage ground vehicle traffic and produce the real-time weather observations you hear reported from the airport.
Sommerfeld’s career has taken him across the country, with early postings in the Northwest Territories, including seven years in Inuvik. Those northern assignments offered more than just work experience, they offered adventure. “A lot of people pay a lot of money to see those places,” he says. “We’re getting paid to be there.”
Back in Saint John, no two days are ever the same. Weather, traffic, and timing can change minute to minute, requiring constant focus and adaptability. “You’ve got to be able to go from zero to 100 real quick,” he says. “It’s like triage, you’re constantly deciding what needs attention first.” Prioritizing, strong spatial awareness, and what he calls a “radio ear” are essential skills for the job. Specialists must mentally map aircraft in three dimensions while processing multiple streams of information, often instantly. Despite the complexity, it’s the simple moments that still stand out. “I still get excited watching airplanes land,” Sommerfeld says. “Even after all these years.”
As aviation technology continues to evolve, from digital systems to satellite-based tracking, so too will the role of Flight Service Specialists. But one thing remains unchanged: behind every safe landing is a team of professionals working quietly in the background. And for Sommerfeld, it’s a role he still loves, decades in. Interested in a career with NAV CANADA? Learn more at: www.navcanada.ca/en/careers