Air Traffic Controllers
Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS), Air Traffic Controller (ATC), Certified Professional Controller (CPC), Enroute Air Traffic Controller (Enroute ATC)
What they do:
Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.
On the job, you would:
- Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
- Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
- Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
Knowledge
Transportation
- movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Arts and Humanities
- English language
Education and Training
- teaching and course design
Safety and Government
- public safety and security
Skills
Basic Skills
- listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
- talking to others
Problem Solving
- noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
- thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
- figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Abilities
Attention
- pay attention to something without being distracted
- do two or more things at the same time
Visual Understanding
- quickly know what you are looking at
- see hidden patterns
Verbal
- communicate by speaking
- listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
- notice when problems happen
Personality
People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.
They do well at jobs that need:
- Attention to Detail
- Stress Tolerance
- Dependability
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Persistence
- Achievement/Effort
Technology
You might use software like this on the job:
Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Flight control software
- Direct-to-tool software
- Traffic management advisor TMA software
Education
Education: (rated 3 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
certificate after high school
usually needed
certificate after high school
usually needed
Job Outlook
Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Explore More
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- Airfield Operations Specialists
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, & Flight Engineers
- Commercial Pilots
- Railroad Conductors & Yardmasters
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about air traffic controllers.