Emily Oxley-Green

Area of work: Royal Air Force
Qualifications: BA economics, University of Liverpool

7.30 am

A typical day begins at 7.30 am with an airfield inspection – making sure the runway is safe and checking for any debris. I then work in the tower, assisting pilots to land and take off successfully. We guide planes within ten miles of the tower to make sure everything runs smoothly and safely. In bad weather they can need a lot of assistance.

11.30 am

My job also involves monitoring the control radar, which scans a 60-mile radius of the sky. This can be stressful at times because we’re assisting huge numbers of aircraft, both military and civilian, and our radius includes co-ordinating traffic with busy airports at Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. I can work with up to 16 aircraft at one time (sometimes in extreme conditions), but I get a real buzz from this aspect of the job.

2.00 pm

As deputy flight commander, I am responsible for the smooth running of a team of 13 people. Throughout the day I check that everything is going to plan and make sure that any issues are dealt with quickly. This involves a lot of communication – working as a solid team is vital to ensure that every plane is safe.

3.30 pm

I’ve just been told that I am being deployed to the Falkland Islands in December for four months, which I’m really looking forward to. It will be a fantastic experience for me and although it means that I won’t be able to spend Christmas with my family and friends, I’m really pleased to have been given this opportunity.

5.30 pm

Air traffic control is needed 24 hours a day, which means I work day or night shifts. I get a real sense of achievement at the end of a shift, knowing that what I’ve been doing all day is worthwhile. Today I’m heading off to practise polo, ready for an RAF polo training weekend, but I’m often found horse riding too.