Career as Air Traffic Control Officer
An Air Traffic Controller usually guides and helps the planes both on the ground and in the sky. With the help of technology, they can see all air traffic in any area. They have to coordinate the traffic to make sure of the take-off and landing of the flight in a safe manner. They have to communicate with the pilots and inform them about the right time to take-off and landing. They also provide weather-related issues on the ground at the airport. The controllers have to direct airport personnel as well. Recently, many developments have taken place in this industry, and therefore, it has become the most in-demand career. You should read about this career if you want to get a prominent Air Traffic Controller. In the coming years, the profession will surely get the momentum as many leading airlines are offering the job role to qualified controllers with excellent salary packages.
- About Air Traffic Control Officer :
- Job Profile |
- How do I get there?
Job Profile
Air Traffic Controllers are holding around 24,300 jobs, and most of them work for the FAA. The controllers work in control towers, en route centers and in control facilities. Approach and Departure Controllers have to work in a dark room. The controllers must maintain maximum concentration and be able to react quickly.
Usually, the controllers have to work a full day and sometimes with
some additional working hours. In a 10 hour long shift, they may
have a gap or rest of 9 hours before the next shift.
Controllers may rotate their shifts during the day, evening and
night as the control facility operates continuously. They may have
to work on weekends and holidays as well. In less busy airports,
the towers may not operate 24 hours.
Job Profile of Air Traffic Controllers
In the aviation sector, Air Traffic Controller job profile is
one of the most restrictive careers. It includes various other
specializations as well. The popular job roles and salaries are not
the same for them. Some popular profiles for this job role are
listed below:
Air Traffic Controller: They are responsible for
monitoring and directing the aircraft movement on the ground and
air through radar and. They also control ground traffic at the
airport.
Tower Controller: They are responsible for
directing the vehicle movements on the runway, taxiway and checking
for various flight plans.
Approach and Departure Controller: They have to control the en-route of aircraft. They have to use radar equipment to monitor flight paths and provide weather-related information to the pilots.
Name of Job/Role
On training completion, the salary of Air Traffic Controllers
generally increases. With time, they can also complete other
successive training levels as well. Their salary depends on various
factors for example their on-the-job training and location. Among
all different levels, the salary of the Air Traffic Controller is
the highest and they can see better growth as well.
|
Name of Job/Role |
Average Salary offered after 2-5 Years of work |
Top Recruiting Companies |
|
Air Traffic Controller |
For Sr. Level more than Rs. 9,00,000 per year |
|
|
Approach/Departure Controller |
For Sr. Level more than Rs. 7,00,000 per year |
|
|
En Route Controller |
For Mid-Level Rs 4-6 Lacs per annum |
Pros and Cons of Air Traffic Controller
Pros
- Certified controllers can enjoy attractive perks
- Great job satisfaction
- It’s a challenging and rewarding job
- Interesting work environment
Cons
- Shift jobs can be stressful
- You may miss social life and festivals
- Job has lots of pressure and needs attention
How do I get there?
If you want to become a professional air controller, then you should possess a Bachelor’s in Science or B.Sc degree with Physics and Mathematics as mandatory subjects. For this, after 10th, you should have mathematics and science as core subjects. At UG level, the aspirants should also have Physics and Mathematics. If you have done PG then at graduate level you should also possess this qualification.
Moreover, apart from this B.Tech and B.E degree you can also apply
for ATC or Air Traffic Controller post. Minimum required percentage
is 60% for the course. Some specific requirements may include the
following:
For UG Course
- Graduation degree with minimum 60% marks. The minimum marks rule may vary depending on the category
- For general students, age should be less than 27 years whereas for reserved categories a relaxation is there up to 5 years to apply for the ATC program
For PG Course
- Candidates must have some experience of the aviation industry
- Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in the respective field
The tuition fee may vary from one school to another and one program to another. FAA also offers training programs to become Air Traffic controller either through school or through military training; several degree options are available for the same. Depending on your choice of program and school, the special fee may vary. Several degrees and diploma programs for UG and PG levels are offered, and few of them are listed below:
- Aircraft Maintenance
- Avionics
- Air Traffic Controller
- Aviation Manager
The FAA offers all programs, and the cost of these programs ranges from $10,000 to $35,000. However, some schools also offer this program. The fees of the programs may include tuition fees, registration charges, including other charges.
Future Growth Prospects and How to get there faster
In the future, you can see better growth in the career of the Air Traffic Controller. The rising number of airlines proves it. However, the salary stated here for various profiles sometimes also depends on the company and individual as well. Still, you will get better salary hikes with experience and can get a managerial position as well after having sufficient experience.
The time to complete the training program depends on an individual’s skills. However, the training program is 3-5 months long and a bachelor’s degree may take three years. Sometimes it may require professional experience as well, so it can be said that it will take around five years to become certified professional.
What are the Top Colleges where one should be studying to become an Air Traffic Controller?
FAA offers a complete list of the approved schools for training of Air Traffic Controller programs on its website. The Federal Aviation Administration or FAA website faa.org can be checked for the information.
|
Rank of College |
Name of College, City |
Programme Fees
|
|
1 |
University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND |
Approx $19,292 per academic year |
|
2 |
Ohio State University Columbus, OH |
Fee depends of course |
|
3 |
Purdue University West Lafayette, IN |
The fee will be as per chosen Aviation course |
Books and other Study Material
To become an Air Traffic Controller, you should have a robust Maths and Physics base. To apply for Junior Executive Controllers, the candidate must have strong textual and non-textual knowledge. Some recommended books for exam preparation are:
- Automation and Systems Issues in Air Traffic Control (Nato ASI Subseries F:)” by John A Wise and V David Hopkins
- Air Traffic Control Test Prep by Learning Express LLC
- Air Traffic Controller Career Prep by Patrick R Mattson
- The Pilots Air Traffic Control Handbook by Paul E Gilman
What if this career does not work out for me? What are the other options for a person with these credentials?
Other careers of your interests
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Content on this page is by Career Expert Mrs. Kum Kum Tandon MA (Psychology), M.Ed, Diploma in Educational Psychology, Vocational Guidance & Counseling (NCERT, Delhi) | View Complete Profile |