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Air Traffic Controller Job
Learn about the key requirements, duties, responsibilities, and skills that should be in an air traffic controller job description.
In an effort to reduce delays and guarantee passenger safety, air traffic controllers utilize technology to monitor and relay possible risks and other useful information to pilots. They issue takeoff and landing directions, keep track of weather and wind changes, and help control activities both on the ground and in their assigned airspace.
Job Description for an air traffic controller
An attentive air traffic controller who excels at multitasking under pressure is what we’re looking for. The air traffic controller will stay in touch with the planes and other air traffic control towers, keep an eye on changes in the wind, visibility, and weather, and give pilots directions on which runways are available and when they may take off or land. You should have excellent communication skills, be attentive, and vigilant.
The safety of aircraft and passengers as they enter and leave your airspace should be your first concern as an air traffic controller if you want to succeed. You should be decisive, responsive, and detail-oriented.
Tasks of an Air Traffic Controller
- Tracking and controlling air and ground traffic.
- Delivering pertinent details about the weather, wind, aircraft routes, potential delays, and runway openings and closings.
- Keeping in touch with other air traffic control facilities, pilots, and airport employees maintain safety, provide projected arrival times, and avoid or address emergency situations.
- Examining, maintaining, and using radar, computers, radios, telephones, maps, reports, and other technology in order to keep an eye on, assess, and adjust to changing situations.
- Notifying response teams of any crises or safety problems.
- Supporting efforts to find lost planes.
- Collecting and analyzing information and reports to create better flight plans and avoid delays.
Qualifications for Air Traffic Controllers
- Compared to a high school diploma.
- To be of legal age, to be a citizen of the United States, and to be physically fit
- It can be desirable to have both more education and experience.
- Completion of training courses successfully.
- Added certificates could be necessary.
- Excellent decision- and communication-making abilities.
- Knowledge of modern technologies, such as radio and computers.
- Ability to keep detailed records and pay attention to details
- Powerful time- and task-management abilities.
- Ability to evaluate data and make judgments.
FAQ’s:
How does one become a controller of air traffic?
Applicants normally need a degree from an Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) school that has been recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), many years of progressively responsible job experience, or a mix of education and experience.
How much training is required to become an air traffic controller?
Depending on prior experience, it can take two to five months to complete FAA Academy training, and two to four years of on-the-job training to get full certification. While some can complete the certification process in as little as five years, others can take up to eight years.
Is a job in air traffic control a worthwhile one?
As a result of the demanding, grueling, and error-free nature of their jobs, air traffic controllers typically earn six-figure incomes. According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics statistics from 2021, air traffic controllers make a median annual pay of $129,750, or $62.38 per hour.
A lot of testing and training are required.
No matter if you want to join the military or the FAA to become a controller, you will need to go through months of training and pass aptitude, physical, physiological, and skill examinations. These tests analyze applicants’ health, and their capacity to train for and execute the job.
