Air traffic controller
Air traffic controllers manage aircraft through all aspects of their flight with the priority of safety, followed by other aspects such as ensuring arrivals and departures are on time. They use navigation and surveillance to communicate advice, information and instructions to pilots via radio.
Air traffic controllers are well known for working in control towers at airports, but the majority actually work in area control centres. They are responsible for the en-route stage of the aircraft, using radar to track its exact position, keeping it safe in the airspace and providing the most efficient route.
There are also approach controllers who take over from the area controllers as the aircraft is approaching the airport. They give initial clearance for the aircraft to approach the airport and put all approaching aircraft into a sequence to create the most efficient order for landing.
At the last stage, aerodrome controllers take over. They are the ones who at the top of the control towers and they guide the pilots in to make a safe landing. They also ensure that the aircraft gets to its parking stand safely and that those leaving the stands reach the runway safely. In some busy airports the aerodrome controllers are divided into air control and ground control.
Air traffic controllers in the RAF, as well as ensuring that aircraft land and take off safely, make sure the air bases are maintained and prepared for emergencies. They also communicate with civilian air authorities to ensure civilian aircraft can pass safely through their airspace. See Royal Air Force Careers for further information.
Tasks may very depending on whether you work as an area, approach or aerodrome controller, but they typically include:
Approach controllers deal with instrument landing systems, which allow some planes to make automatic landings, and ensure that planes are placed in holding patterns when airports are busy.
Aerodrome controllers guide the aircraft through landing and to its parking stand at the terminal. Their roles may be further sub-divided into air control and ground control at very busy airports. Their activities include:
Salary data from NATS. Salary figures are intended as a guide only.
A degree or HND is not a necessary requirement for entry into the role of air traffic controller. Due to the nature of the role however, a degree which provides a high level of numeracy or technical knowledge may be beneficial.
Aptitude is looked for by the trainers and employers of air traffic controllers and they often view this as being more important than qualifications. It is a requirement however, that candidates have at least five GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade C or above, including English and Maths. They must also be over the age of 18 when applying.
Pre-entry experience is not required as full training is given for the role. However a background in office-based work, customer service or communication-based roles may be an advantage.
The majority of entrants train through National Air Traffic Services (NATS) which has its own set of requirements for entrance. These are partly competency based and are listed on the NATS website at the following:
Candidates must also meet certain medical requirements which include passing a CAA UK Class 3 medical certificate. A summary of the eligibility criteria for medical conditions can be found at NATS ATCO Careers . It is possible that candidates may pass the Class 3 medical but still do not meet all of the requirements of NATS. In this instance it may be possible to complete training with another air traffic services provider, such as Resource Training , and then apply for air traffic controller jobs after that. As well as the above criteria, candidates must also show evidence of:
Recruitment takes place at various dates throughout the year with the different training providers so candidates should check with individual providers for details. NATS has an intake to their training courses in January/February, April/May, July/August and October/November every year.
The application and selection process for NATS is a rigorous one containing online and paper tests, assessment days, group exercises and an interview. The selection processes with other training providers may vary slightly but will usually be along the same lines and test similar competencies.
Additional general information about the selection process is available from the Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers (GATCO) .
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Training to become a fully qualified air traffic controller can take around three years. The actual structure of the training is likely to vary depending on the provider.
Training with private course providers has to be paid for but you can usually choose the area you wish to specialise in (e.g. area control, aerodrome, etc). If candidates train with National Air Traffic Services (NATS) they receive a basic wage as the training stages are part of their employment. They may be placed in any location in the UK however once a certain part of their training is complete and the area they specialise in is usually determined by business needs.
The basic training with NATS usually takes around two months to complete. This is followed by training in the specialised areas. Area control courses take around nine months, aerodrome/approach courses take at least eight months and aerodrome courses take around five months. These are minimum course lengths and some candidates may take longer to finish the training.
Upon completion of this stage candidates are placed in available positions and continue with training to work towards validation. The time this takes varies depending on the individual and the unit they are placed in.
Candidates are assessed throughout their training through the use of practical exercises, exams and oral tests.
Those from other course providers are able to apply for trainee roles with other air services operators, where they will continue with their training.
Once qualified, all air traffic controllers are required to keep their knowledge and skills up to date. This means they will continue to go on training courses or will receive in-house training throughout their careers. Useful news updates can be found from the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA) and Airport International .
It is possible for air traffic controllers to move to larger airports with experience. There may also be the opportunity to progress to manager level. Approximately 80% of the operational controllers employed by National Air Traffic Services (NATS) , stay in operational roles throughout their careers. But there may be options to become a group supervisor or manager of a watch or unit. In these positions you would be managing the work of other controllers.
It may also be possible to move into training roles, working in a college or assessment unit training and assessing new recruits, or being a mentor to a new recruit on the job.
There is limited progression between the specific disciplines of air traffic control. It is unlikely that someone trained as an aerodrome controller would move to a role as an area controller (or vise versa) as the training undertaken is specific to the exact role and is very expensive. Controllers therefore typically stay in the discipline in which they were first trained.
There is the possibility to work in air traffic control within other countries in the European Union. English is the international language used in air traffic control but it may be helpful to have knowledge of the language spoken in the country in which you wish to work. Air traffic control across Europe is quite fragmented but an initiative called Single European Sky is aiming to change this. For more information on this initiative see EUROCONTROL: European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation .
National Air Traffic Services (NATS) is the main employer of air traffic controllers. NATS is a public-private partnership between:
NATS is the sole employer of area controllers who work on ‘en-route’ services. They work in area control centres based in Swanwick and Prestwick. NATS also employs approach and aerodrome controllers at airports in the UK. They have to tender for the contracts with the airport operator and currently provide services for around 15 of the major airports in the UK, plus one in Gibraltar.
Some airports, in particular the regional ones, employ controllers directly or use privately owned air traffic control service companies such as Safeskys Ltd .
NATS have started to attend some university careers fairs.
Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies.
Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.
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