Definition

Control assistant. A person who assists in the provision of air traffic services but who is not authorized to make decisions regarding clearances, advice or information to be issued to aircraft.
Source: ICAO Doc 9426 ATS Planning Manual

Description

The ATC assistant (also referred to as "flight data", "flight data assistant", "assistant controller", "control assistant" or simply "assistant") is a person that helps air traffic controllers by performing certain tasks that make their job smoother. These include routine duties but also relatively complex and time consuming ones which are not considered appropriate for active controller positions.

Depending on local circumstances (e.g. level of automation), assistants may be assigned to a single sector (i.e. one per sector), or, they can be stationed at a separate workplace, assisting all controllers in the ops room.