HOW TO BECOME AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

HOW TO BECOME AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

Are you looking for a lucrative career without having to commit to four years of college? You could be suited for a job in air traffic control. Your first step in determining whether this field fits with your financial goals may be to estimate the income possibilities. Examining the responsibilities and career path for air traffic controllers will help you choose whether this is a career you want to pursue.

This article describes the fundamental duties of air traffic controllers, reveals the typical national salary, and lays out the steps for pursuing this job.

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What does an air traffic controller do for a living?

The mastermind behind the smooth operation of air traffic, an air traffic controller guides pilots through climbs and descents and keeps an eye on the planes as they fly. As the hub of communication, they welcome the control of incoming flights and hand off the reins of outgoing flights to traffic control centers. They provide their services to aircraft flying in domestic airspace as well as the nationally governed international oceanic airspace. They are typically located in airport traffic control towers, air route-traffic control centers, terminal radar approach control facilities, or within the National Airspace System (NAS) precincts.

Their repertoire includes

• Giving pilots critical information, such as runway closures, weather updates, and other important data.

• Notifying airport staff during any aircraft exigencies.
• Employing an array of tools such as computers, radar, or visual cues to supervise and direct aerial and ground traffic at the airport.
• Regulating the all of  ground hustle that includes baggage vehicles and maintenance crews.

Types of air traffic controllers

Tower controllers

These teams, which are housed in control towers, monitor every aircraft operating in terminal airspace, guaranteeing smooth traffic flow into and out of the airport, preserving safe aircraft separations, and providing pilots with critical weather information.

En route controllers

Armed with surveillance equipment, they maintain safe flying distances by providing aircraft with weather and traffic advice while they traverse the airspace between airports.

Average salary of an air traffic controller

The national median salary for an air traffic controller is $57,197 a year, with a range of $14,000 to an astounding $130,000, depending on a variety of factors like region, flight path complexity, and more. As each training level is completed, the money ladder rises. It is advised to visit indeed.com/salaries for the most recent wage insights.

The Trail to Becoming an Air Traffic Controller

Educational Pursuits

An associate’s or bachelor’s degree from an Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) school is highly recommended for aspiring air traffic controllers, however it is not required. Those with three years of progressive work experience, a bachelor’s degree, or a combination of the two are also welcome. A degree from an AT-CTI college, however, might be a powerful catalyst for your career goals in air traffic control, giving you preferential consideration given the competitive nature of these posts.

Meeting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Criteria

U.S. citizenship, passing a background check and medical evaluation, passing a drug test, finishing an FAA Academy training module before turning 31, passing the FAA air traffic pre-employment exam, being able to communicate in English, and being willing to move to an FAA facility are all on the list.

Clearing the Entry Threshold for an FAA Training Program

Students can take the Air Traffic Selection and Training exam after completing the AT-CTI program and obtaining a letter of recommendation from their school. After passing the tests, candidates can start applying for jobs as air traffic controllers. Although AT-CTI graduates and veterans with prior aviation experience frequently have an advantage, people not on the AT-CTI track can nonetheless apply during the FAA’s enrollment openings.

Enrolling in an FAA Training Program

Depending on your history and the position you were hired for, the next step after qualifying is to attend the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for two to five months.

Apprenticeship

After graduating, trainees work as developmental controllers at an air traffic control facility, moving up the ranks as they gain experience.

Certification

Achieving certification, a prerequisite, requires passing a practical exam and a knowledge examination as well as completing the experience requirements through practical training, which typically takes two to four years.

Frequently Pondered Queries

The Duration to Become an Air Traffic Controller

Depending on your expertise, the FAA Academy term usually lasts two to five months, and then you must complete two to four years of on-the-job training to get fully certified, for a total of five to eight years.

Work Schedule of Air Traffic Controllers

Although overtime is not unheard of, the majority of air traffic controllers follow a full-time schedule. FAA regulations require a minimum of nine hours between shifts and cap their work at ten hours in a row. Air traffic controllers may be on a rotating schedule spanning nights, weekends, and holidays in larger facilities that are open around-the-clock.

Traits for Success

Unwavering focus, quick decision-making, strong mathematical abilities for determining critical flight parameters, and excellent communication skills for efficient pilot coordination are some of the important characteristics.