the meeting between air and matter

Mike’s journey into air traffic control began with a keen interest in problem solving and a desire to work in a challenging and dynamic environment. Early in his career at NAV CANADA, Mike quickly realized that air traffic control is not just about issuing instructions or managing aircraft, but also involves having a bird’s eye view. together while paying attention to the smallest details. During each shift, he monitors and coordinates flight paths, ensuring the safety and efficiency of aircraft traveling through the airspace.

Mike’s work is both technical and intuitive. Her role requires a combination of quick thinking and the ability to manage multiple moving elements, qualities also necessary in the artistic field. “As a controller, you must constantly observe, anticipate and adapt,” explains Mike. In many ways, it’s like painting a canvas: you plan, but you also adapt to what’s happening in real time. »

Mike’s passion for art runs deep in his family. Born to a mother who owned an art gallery and an architect father, he was immersed in creativity from an early age. His grandfather, an artist trained by some of Canada’s most respected painters, left an artistic legacy that still inspires Mike today. “By using my grandfather’s palette knives and easel, I feel like I’m carrying on his artistic legacy,” he says.

Mike sees strong connections between his artistic practice and his work at NAV CANADA. “Both roles require a balance of intuition and analysis,” he explains. Whether I’m deciding the next brushstroke on a canvas or managing air traffic, I have to trust the process, observe the situation, and be able to adapt. »

Here are some of the parallels Mike draws between his work and painting:

• Observation : Air traffic control and painting both require a keen sense of observation. When painting, Mike must consider different perspectives (wide angle and detailed views), while at work he must monitor routes, flight plans and aircraft movements with equal attention.
• Imagination : As an artist, when Mike thinks of a perspective he would like to paint, he must plan it: imagine the location, where he wants to be in relation to the subject and how to evoke the feeling that comes from it. cleared. As part of his duties at NAV CANADA, he must also imagine different outcomes and scenarios when managing air traffic, anticipating the next movement and adapting accordingly.
• Troubleshooting: Painting has many variables, including paint thickness, opacity, tone, tint, and color range. Just like Mike balances color, light and perspective in his art, air traffic control requires constant problem solving. Whether resolving a complex air traffic situation or refining the composition of a canvas, Mike uses the same analytical mind.
• Patience and persistence: Both practices require time and constant progress. In painting, the artist builds the layers of color and texture gradually, much like the years of training and experience needed to become an air traffic controller.
• Spatial awareness: The aerial perspective in Mike’s work can sometimes get lost if he doesn’t consider scale or the relationships between elements like roads, buildings, and landscapes next to each other. Air traffic control is similar in that one must look at a surveillance screen containing two-dimensional information and data to extrapolate and envision space in three-dimensional space. Mike also emphasizes that “it’s one of the most satisfying and exciting parts of my job.”
• Attention to detail: In painting as in air traffic control, details can change everything. Whether it’s the angle of light in a cityscape or the altitude of a flight, paying close attention to detail is essential.

Mike’s two passions continue to fuel his creativity and professional growth. As an artist, he wishes to exhibit his worksOpen a new window more widely on a national scale, ideally alongside those of his partner, in order to create a common narrative through their art. He is also attracted to the idea of ​​larger-scale projects, like public installations or collaborationsOpen a new window pushing the limits of its current practice.

At NAV CANADA, Mike remains committed to perfecting his skills as an air traffic controller by applying the same perseverance and passion to his work that he puts into his art. Her journey is a testament to how diverse interests and talents can nourish and strengthen each other, creating a rich and fulfilling professional and personal life.

“I’m always striving to learn more, whether it’s in the control center or in front of a canvas,” says Mike. In both cases, the pursuit of excellence is a journey that never stops. »