Air Traffic Controller Job Description: Duties, Education, Training and Certification Requirements, Job Outlook and Salary Information
Submitted by: Gypsy Santiago
Job Overview: As its name suggest, an Air Traffic controller is responsible for controlling air traffic on and within the vicinity of airports, tracking planes using visual and radar observation and considering various factors, such as weather, wind direction and velocity, as well as the number of aircraft in a particular area. They work by authorizing, regulating and controlling commercial airline flights, according to company regulations and government laws to minimize delays ensure flight safety.
Education, Training and Knowledge Requirements: To become an air traffic controller, he/she must be under 31 years old. Several exams should be passed, which includes criminal background and drug screening checks, as well as a set of rigorous physical examinations. He/she must also possess a 40-year degree in aviation administration or at least three years of work experience in aviation. Some receive military experience (preferably as an air dispatch operator, aircraft navigator or pilot) combined with a 2-year course in aviation.
Skills & Abilities: Air traffic controllers must work well under extreme pressure and must possess a vast knowledge in mathematics and its applications; transportation principles and methods; transmission, broadcasting and operation of telecommunication systems; circuit boards and other computer and electronic applications and programming; as well as prediction of physical principles. He/she must also have a strong grasp of the English language and is able to multi-task, listen actively, think critically, convey information effectively, and communicate (both in written and verbal) effectively.
Controllers should also be highly skilled in controlling operations of systems or equipment and monitoring operations. He/she should have the ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, and be able to respond to these matters quickly.
Duties:
The duties of an air traffic controller may include (but are not limited to) initiating and coordinating search efforts for missing aircraft; inspecting, adjusting and controlling airport lights or radio equipment; reviewing reports and records to ensure completeness; alerting airport emergency departments in case of emergencies; analyzing factors such as fuel requirements, weather reports and maps to determine air routes; and checking conditions and traffic at various altitudes to guide pilots during altitude changes, among others.
Earnings & Job Outlook: Entry-level controllers often begin with supplying pilots with basic airport and flight information, and shift to jobs as a ground controller, local controller, departure controller and arrival controller. The employment outlook remains high, with an expected growth of more than average until 2014. Salaries depend largely on the type and size of the airport. Median salary for 2004 was $102,030 per year, while highly experienced controllers received $139,210 annually.
Gypsy Santiago is a professional resume writer and career search strategy/career branding coach with years of experience in assisting job seekers prepare for the job market. She helps create career-targeted resumes, provides useful tips about career transition, offers future career ideas and guide jobseekers about effective job search techniques.
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