Air Traffic Controllers

Career summary

Job titles for air traffic controllers may vary depending on their specific duties to coordinate and regulate air traffic on the ground or in the air. Some common titles are airport tower or terminal controllers, en route controllers, and radar controllers.

#Added based on information in the 2004/05 OOH. CJ

Air traffic controllers manage air traffic between or within airports. There are three types of controllers:

Tower controllers

Tower controllers manage the flow of airplanes that are landing and taking off. They give clearance and traffic information to pilots and other controllers. They direct traffic on runways.

Radar approach/departure controllers

Radar controllers manage the flow of airplanes into and out of an airport’s airspace. They make sure all planes are a minimum distance apart. They also guide the pilots during take off and landing, using radar to monitor flight paths.

En route controllers

En route controllers monitor planes as they fly between airports. Controllers monitor the traffic patterns of several aircraft at once and make certain that planes stay a safe distance apart. They instruct pilots when they need to change their altitude or heading in order to avoid other planes or bad weather. En route controllers work in centers located across the country. They guide planes when planes enter their center’s air space.

Controllers monitor the weather and keep pilots informed of conditions. They use two-way radios to talk to pilots and other controllers.

Controllers maintain activity logs during their shift. These logs include a record of messages from pilots that detail what happens during flights in progress. They also prepare reports required by the FAA.

Related careers

This career is part of the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Airplane Pilots
• Computer Operators
• Computer User Support Specialists
• Dispatchers
• Insurance Adjusters and Examiners
• Locomotive Engineers
• Power Plant Operators
• Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
• Ship Captains and Mates
• Surveying and Mapping Technicians
• Traffic Technicians
• Train Conductors and Yardmasters

Military careers

• Air Traffic Control Managers
• Air Traffic Controllers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to air traffic controllers.

• Coordinate and direct arrivals, departures, and travel of airplanes between airports.
• Authorize landings and takeoffs at airports.
• Track aircraft on radar screen.
• Observe aircraft from tower windows and from the ground.
• Read activity logs and evaluate weather reports.
• Analyze fuel requirements and flight maps to instruct pilots.
• Assign flight path changes for turbulent or stormy weather, other air traffic, or emergencies.
• Inform pilots about nearby planes as well as weather, wind, and visibility conditions.
• Relay flight data between en route and tower controllers.
• Direct ground traffic, including maintenance and baggage vehicles and airport workers.
• Operate and adjust radio controls and airport lights.
• Alert emergency services in cases of emergency.
• Keep daily activity logs and records of messages.
• Maintain federally required reports.
• Provide on-the-job training to new controllers.

Common work activities

Air traffic controllers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Make decisions and solve problems
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Get information needed to do the job
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Process information
• Teach others
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Analyze data or information
• Think creatively
• Evaluate information against standards
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Perform for or work with the public
• Coach others
• Use computers
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Document and record information
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Develop goals and strategies

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, air traffic controllers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Are substantially responsible for the health and safety of passengers and crew members.
• Have a high level of social interaction. They frequently talk to pilots and other controllers.
• Communicate by telephone and in face-to-face discussions daily. They occasionally write letters and memos.
• Almost always work as part of a team.
• Are responsible for the work outcomes and results of others.
• Are placed in conflict situations on a daily basis in which they must deal with rude or angry people. Air traffic control can be stressful.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors.
• May be exposed to loud sounds and distracting noise levels.
• Work physically close to others, usually within a few feet. Air traffic controllers usually work in a small area.

Work performance

• Make decisions quickly and without consulting a supervisor first.
• Make decisions that greatly impact everyone involved in flying, including pilots, passengers, ground crew, and other traffic controllers.
• Must complete all details of the job while being exact and accurate in instructing pilots. Errors can result in serious accidents or unnecessary disruptions to service.
• Must repeat the same physical actions while remaining alert to pilot activities.
• Work in a stressful atmosphere in which deadlines must be constantly met.
• Determine their daily tasks and goals independently. Work is dictated by flight schedules

Hours/travel

• Usually work a 40-hour week. Work schedules are usually established and set.
• May rotate night and weekend shifts with other controllers.

Physical demands

Air traffic controllers frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for air traffic controllers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for air traffic controllers to be able to:

• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• See objects in very low light.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.

Skills and abilities

Air traffic controllers need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

Use math and science

• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Teach others how to do something.

Work with things

• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Air Traffic Control

Training

To work as an air traffic controller, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree and three years of work experience OR have a combination of the two;
• pass a pre-employment test;
• be under 31 years of age;
• pass a medical exam and drug screening;
• obtain a security clearance;
• complete training at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) academy; and
• complete long-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

Currently, the FAA hires air traffic controllers only from these specific groups:

• graduates of FAA-approved college programs;
• people with prior air traffic control experience; or
• military veterans, preferably air traffic controllers.

Training for air traffic controllers is a combination of formal and on-the-job training.

To qualify for training, you must pass a selection process. First, you must pass an exam that measures your ability to learn a controller's duties. After passing the exam, you go through a week of screening at the FAA academy in Oklahoma City. At the academy, you take aptitude tests on computer simulators. You also take physical and psychological exams. All of these tests and exams are to determine your suitability for controller's work. After passing this initial screening, you take a drug-screening test.

After passing the screening process, you train for seven months at the FAA academy. At the academy, you study the airway system, FAA rules, controller equipment, and aircraft performance. You must pass a series of exams and show you can recognize and solve problems quickly. In addition, you must make sound judgments based on spatial relationships. You also must apply FAA procedures and rules to many air traffic situations.

For additional details, go to the FAA  website.

Work experience

Work experience as a pilot or in airport operations is good experience for this occupation.

On-the-job training

After graduating from the FAA academy, you work as a trainee for several years. During this period, you gain work experience, take more classroom training, and complete self-study assignments. You work your way up through a series of more difficult jobs. You begin by giving pilots routine flight and airport information. Then you control aircraft at the airport ramps and taxiways. You then move on to local controller, departure controller, and finally to arrival controller. These on-the-job training steps are necessary to become a fully qualified controller.

Military training

The military trains people to be air traffic controllers. Training lasts from seven to 13 weeks, depending on the specialty. Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Military experience as air traffic controller is excellent preparation for FAA training as an air traffic controller.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Computer Applications
• Geography

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

With few exceptions, the only employer in this occupation is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). For tower and center jobs, applicants must be 31 or younger. There is no age limit for flight service center jobs. Applicants must have three years of general work experience or four years of college. A combination of both is also acceptable.

People who want to qualify for training with the FAA must pass a civil service exam. The exam tests applicants' ability to learn the controller's duties. The exam measures abstract reasoning and spatial perception. Applicants who have experience as a pilot, navigator, or military controller are given special consideration during the application process.

Applicants who pass the exam attend a week of further screening at the FAA Academy. They take tests that measure their physical and psychological strength. Applicants who pass this level of testing must take drug-screening tests.

The FAA looks for applicants who have good memory, intelligence, and communication skills. Controllers need to give accurate directions quickly and clearly to pilots. Controllers need to receive, interpret, and remember information. They make quick decisions. They have to concentrate and focus while working among noise and distractions.

Tips

Business administration classes are also helpful. Aviation experience can be a plus. Those with pilot experience may fare better. Hands-on experience through the military is valuable.

Costs to workers

Some workers may wish to join a professional association, which may have annual dues. Union workers pay membership fees.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Air Traffic Controllers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages are determined by job responsibilities and the amount and complexity of the air traffic. Earnings are higher at airports where traffic patterns are more complex. Ratings are determined by the volume of traffic and the number of other towers with which the airport tower communicates. Air traffic controllers working for the Federal Aviation Administration in the Seattle area earn a base salary plus a locality pay rate that is 25.11% of their base salary.

#Updated Seattle locality rate 2/19/08, cj. Updated locality pay rate from federal gov't. locality chart for 2010, 2/3/10, CJ. Locality rate still at 21.81% for 2012 & for 2014, cj. Updated locality rate 2/2/16,cj; used ATSPP pay table on this page https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/benefits/ . Updated locality rate 1/30/18 from 22.26 % to 25.11% per rate effective 1/07/18, cj.

Pay varies with the controller's experience and level of responsibility. Pay also varies with the location and size of the airport and the cost of living in the local area.

Full-time air traffic controllers receive benefits. Typical benefits include health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and retirement pay.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Almost all air traffic controllers work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Most of the rest work for private companies that contract with small communities. A few work as military air traffic controllers for the Department of Defense.

Major employers:

• Federal government agencies

National outlook

Despite an expected increase in air traffic, growth will be limited as air traffic control systems become more automated. New computerized systems assist controllers by making many of the routine decisions. This allows controllers to handle more traffic. The federal budget also may limit how many air traffic controllers are hired.

Most job openings will occur as current controllers retire. Competition to get into the FAA training programs is expected to remain strong. Opportunities will be best for those who obtain an air traffic management degree from a FAA certified school or have military experience as an air traffic controller.

Other resources

Air Traffic Control Association 
225 Reinekers Lane
Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.299.2430

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association 
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, MD 21701
800.872.2672
301.695.2000

Airlines for America 
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1300
Washington, DC 20004
202.626.4000

Careers in the Military 

Federal Aviation Administration 
800 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20591
866.835.5322

National Air Traffic Controllers Association 
1325 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005
800.266.0895
202.628.5451

Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization 
Ron Taylor, President
161 SW Willow Lake Trail
Stuart, FL 34997
772.283.3369

Professional Women Controllers Inc. 
800.232.9792

What is an Air Traffic Controller? 

References

Career cluster

• Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net  occupation

• Air Traffic Controllers (53-2021.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Air-traffic Coordinator (193.162-010) 
• Air-traffic-control Specialist, Station (193.162-014) 
• Air-traffic-control Specialist, Tower (193.162-018) 
• Chief Controller (193.167-010) 
• Dispatcher (912.167-010) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Conventional/Realistic

COPSystem

• Business Professional