Transcript
[Neil Cristo:]
My name is Neil Cristo, and I'm a Technical Team Lead for Aerodromes and Air Navigation with Transport Canada.
I work in the Prairie/Northern region, and I manage a team of nine inspectors in the Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg offices.
Part of my role is to ensure that Transport Canada's mandate of ensuring a safe, secure and environmentally responsible transportation system is achieved in addition to meeting our international obligations.
I have been fascinated with aviation and airports my entire life at a very young age.
You know, how airports work, the mystery, you know, what everything meant. You know, when you when you look outside the window of an aircraft and you see the different colored lights and you see the markings on the runway, and you see the different signs on a runway was always a mystery, and it was always really interesting.
Part of our job is to ensure that airports are compliant with the various standards for marking, lighting, signage. It really shone a light on how airports operate, and I find it incredibly interesting.
Well, I joined the Canadian Forces when I was 18 years old, so I was I was pretty young. After spending a few years in the Army, I decided to transfer to the Royal Canadian Air Force as an airport rescue firefighter. I thought, you know, why not combine the military with firefighting, and I'll get to work at an airport, and I'll get to respond to aircraft emergencies. And it certainly prepared me for the positions that I'm in now.
Managing a team of nine inspectors has really proved to be interesting and rewarding. The inspectors come from all different walks of life, all different types of experience. Some worked at airports, some were pilots, some worked for airlines, and they all bring something to the table that really adds to the team.
I absolutely consider this my dream job. To finally be able to, work at an airport, work at heliports, walk the surfaces of the runway and taxiway while conducting inspections is just amazing. I find it very, very interesting, and rewarding.
Every Canadian that steps foot in an airport is impacted by our work. We have a team of very dedicated and professional inspectors which travel all over the country to the most remote airports, to some of the busiest airports in Canada, and their job is to ensure that you're safe.
You're in good hands.