- Job Definition
-
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.
- Job Zone
-
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Interests
- Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Knowledge
- Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
- Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
- Skills
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Tasks
- Organize flight plans and traffic management plans to prepare for planes about to enter assigned airspace.
- Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
- Compile information about flights from flight plans, pilot reports, radar, and observations.
- Relay to control centers such air traffic information as courses, altitudes, and expected arrival times.
- Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
- Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages from aircraft.
- Initiate and coordinate searches for missing aircraft.
- Inspect, adjust, and control radio equipment and airport lights.
- Review records and reports for clarity and completeness, and maintain records and reports as required under federal law.
- Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency and when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
- Analyze factors such as weather reports, fuel requirements, and maps in order to determine air routes.
- Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes.
- Conduct pre-flight briefings on weather conditions, suggested routes, altitudes, indications of turbulence, and other flight safety information.
- Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, and other information.
- Determine the timing and procedures for flight vector changes.
- Wages
-
In 2008, the California average annual wage was $117,580.00.
Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $53,310.00 and $165,000.00.
- Outlook
During 2006, there were approximately 2,400 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 2,800 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 40 openings due to growth and about 70 replacement openings for approximately 110 total annual openings. This occupation .
- Colleges and Training
- Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.
- Air Traffic Controller - A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to air-traffic management and control, usually with additional training at the FAA Flight Control Center in a cooperative education program. Includes instruction in flight control; the use of radar and electronic scanning devices; plotting of flights; radio communication; interpretation of weather conditions affecting flights; flight instrumentation used by pilots; and maintenance of flight-control center or control-tower log books.
- Similar Occupations
- Locomotive Engineers - Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight. Interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and regulations.
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers - Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters - Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight train. Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within yard of railroad, industrial plant, or similar location. Yardmasters coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains, yard switching, and review train schedules and switching orders.
- Mates- Ship, Boat, and Barge - Supervise and coordinate activities of crew aboard ships, boats, barges, or dredges.
- Traffic Technicians - Conduct field studies to determine traffic volume, speed, effectiveness of signals, adequacy of lighting, and other factors influencing traffic conditions, under direction of traffic engineer.
- Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation - Inspect and monitor transportation equipment, vehicles or systems to ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards.
- Notes
- You must be logged in to take notes, click here to login.
- Job Openings
- Click here for job openings in California.
