What does an Air Traffic Controller do?

An air traffic controller is a person who directs an aircraft until it reaches a certain airspace. A controller may work in facilities including an airport tower, a terminal radar approach control room, and air route traffic control center. This aviation professional is charged with monitoring aircraft by relaying information such as weather, nearby planes, and flight path instructions. The majority of air traffic controllers are employed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Tower controllers work at glass-enclosed structures at airports. They give the green light for pilots to taxi and take off. Also, tower controllers communicate with an aircraft as long as the plane remains in the tower’s authority. Once the plane is no longer in a tower controller’s jurisdiction, it becomes the responsibility of the terminal radar controller.

An air traffic controller at a terminal radar approach control radar room may work at the base of the airport tower or at an entirely separate facility. The main duty of these controllers is to manage the course of aircraft coming or going out of an airport. A terminal radar controller keeps an eye on an aircraft’s movement using radar to make sure there is a safe distance between all the aircraft under their watch. Also, a terminal radar controller keeps pilots updated about weather and runway situations.

An air route traffic control center controller works at one of 20 facilities located throughout the United States. Each facility employs hundreds of air traffic controllers, and is responsible for specific air space. A facility generally is responsible for more than 100,000 square miles spanning several states, and is responsible for providing assistance to an aircraft for most of its flight. Controllers operate individually or in teams to monitor an assigned airspace.

Working in an extremely busy environment, an air traffic controller may put in 40 hours or more weekly. A controller is required to work efficiently and be capable of making sound decisions. The safety of an aircraft and its crew and passengers falls in the hands of an air traffic controller, so the ability to handle stressful situations is a must. Air traffic controllers also must be able to multitask, remember many pieces of information, and concentrate in high pressure situations. The majority of control towers and centers are open around the clock, so an air traffic controller may be required to work evenings, late nights, and weekends.

To become an air traffic controller, a person must be 30 years old or younger at the time of hire, and be a citizen of the United States. Most controllers are trained at a Federal Aviation Administration academy and receive on-the-job training. Controllers are required to pass a physical and drug test.