Air Traffic Control Specialist

An air traffic control specialist (ATCS) is often described as one who provides control for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow or air traffic. It is their function to direct air traffic so it flows smoothly, efficiently and safety above all on the ground and in the air.

Terminal (Tower) controllers control air traffic at airports and give pilots taxiing and take off instructions, air traffic clearances, and advice based on their own observations and information from the Meteorological Office, air route traffic control centres (ACCs), flight service stations, pilots, and other sources. They provide separation between landing and departing aircraft. They transfer control of aircraft to the ACC controller when the aircraft leaves their airspace, and they receive control of aircraft coming into their airspace from controllers at adjacent facilities. Air traffic controllers must be familiar with the aircraft identification and positions of the aircraft under their control, aircraft types and speed, the location of navigational aids and landmarks in the area. They provide information about weather conditions for specific flights, receive and forward pilot’s flight plans, relay air traffic control instructions, assist pilots in emergency situations, provide airport advisory service, and initiate searchers for missing or overdue aircraft.

Air traffic control specialists at Area Control Centre give aircraft instructions, air traffic clearances, and advice regarding flight conditions while en route between airports. They provide separation between aircraft flying along the airways or operating into or out airports not served by a terminal facility. Centre controllers use radar, or in some cases, manual procedures to track the progress of all instrument flights within the centre’s airspace. Where radar coverage is available and their workload permits, ACC controllers also provide radar service to pilots who are not on instrument flight plans, alerting them to potential traffic conflicts. Controllers transfer control of aircraft to controllers in adjacent centres, or approach control, or terminal.

The controllers normally work a thirty-six-hour week using radio, radar, electronic computers, telephone, traffic control light, and other devices for communication. Shift work is necessary. Each controller at Airport Control Tower is responsible, at separate times, for giving taxiing instructions to aircraft on the ground, take off instructions and air traffic clearances, and directing landing of incoming planes. These individual duties are rotated among the staff about every two hours at busy locations. At busy times, controllers must work rapidly, and mental detail demands increase as traffic mounts, especially when poor flying conditions occur and traffic stacks up. Brief rest periods provide some relief, but are not always possible. Radar controllers usually work in semi-darkness.

Air traffic control specialists in all specializations are required to possess or obtain a valid Air Traffic Control Specialist Certificate and/or Control Tower Operator Certificate, if appropriate. These certificates require demonstrating knowledge of basic meteorology, base air navigation, standard air traffic control and communications procedures, the types and uses of aid of the air navigation, and regulations governing air traffic. In addition, each air traffic control specialist must possess or obtain a rating for the facility to which assigned. This facility rating requires demonstration of knowledge of the kind and location of radio aids to air navigation, the terrain, the landmarks, the communication systems and circuits, the procedure peculiar to the area covered by the facility. All required certificates and ratings must be obtained, is not already held within uniformly applicable time limits established by agency management.

Candidates must be able to pass a physical examination (including normal colour vision). Air traffic control specialists are required to requalify in a physical examination given annually.

Applicants must also pass a comprehensive written test and complete a personal interview during which alertness, decisiveness, diction, poise and conciseness of speech are evaluated. Both men and women are employed as air traffic controllers. Few occupations make more rigid physical and mental demands upon employees that of air traffic controllers. Because studies show that the unique skills necessary for successe a controller diminish with age, a maximum age of 30 has been established, without exception, for entry into tower or centre controller position.