Air Traffic Controllers

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Transportation & Material Moving
• O*NET-SOC code: 53-2021
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
• Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
• Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
• Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
• Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.
• Direct ground traffic, including taxiing aircraft, maintenance or baggage vehicles, or airport workers.
• Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.
• Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.
• Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, SAP software, Advanced technologies and oceanic procedures ATOP, Air route surveillance radar ARSR systems, Airport surface detection equipment ASDE systems, Airport surveillance radar ASR systems

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Aircraft Service Attendants
• Flight Attendants
• Airfield Operations Specialists
• Commercial Pilots
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
• Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
• Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
• Traffic Technicians

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Air Traffic Controllers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.