How To Become An Air Traffic Controller?

We all know that an air traffic controller job is one of the highest-paying jobs. Also, it does not require a four-year degree all the time. An air traffic controller is known as the one who is accountable for coordinating the movement of air traffic. He should guide pilots during takeoff as well as landing. Also, he needs to monitor the planes as they travel the skies. Let us determine how to become an air traffic controller in this article.

How to become an air traffic controller?

Becoming an air traffic controller in different countries is much similar. So, do you know how to become an air traffic controller in the UK? The training to become an entirely qualified air traffic controller may take around three years. Anyways, the actual structure of the preparation and the training will vary depending on the provider. You have to pay for the training with private course providers. However, you can generally pick the area you wish to specialize in.

Did we ever think how hard it is to become an air traffic controller? The following are the elementary

steps a person can follow to become an air traffic controller:

Follow an education.
Encounter the Federal Aviation Administration needs.
Should pass the qualifying tests for an FAA training program.
Complete an FAA training program.
Achievement of experience.
Attain a certification.

People always doubt how long it takes to become an air traffic controller. The Federal Aviation Administration or the FAA academy usually takes two to five months to complete entirely, depending on its experience. It takes another two to four years, typically on-the-job training, to become fully qualified. Air traffic controllers can become fully certified in as little as five years or as many as eight. It depends on the person’s talent.

Previously, we talked about the elementary steps to follow to become an air traffic controller. Therefore, now we know how difficult it is to become an air traffic controller.

Let us discuss the steps mentioned above furthermore to get a thorough idea.

Follow an education.

Ambitious air traffic controllers usually require an associate or Bachelor’s degree from an Initiative program of an Air Traffic Collegiate Training. They also consider the candidates with three years of gradually accountable work experience.

2. Encounter the Federal Aviation Administration requirements.

To become a trained air traffic controller, a person must meet the following necessities:

Should be a U.S. citizen.
Pass a medical evaluation in addition to drug screening.
Should pass a background check.
Must complete a training course at FAA Academy before turning 31.

3. Passing the qualifying tests for an FAA training program.

If you have a recommendation letter from your school, you can take the Air Traffic Selection plus Training exam after completing the AT-CTI program. Students generally take this exam before graduation. However, they should meet their school’s requirements to collect the recommendation. Students also need to pass the FAA pre-employment test. This exam assesses personality plus fitness. Students can apply for air traffic controller jobs after passing the exams. After they accept a job offer, graduates can join up in the training course at FAA Academy.

4. Complete an FAA training program.

Training at FAA Academy is placed in Oklahoma City. It usually lasts from two to five months, depending on the trainee’s background and hired position.

5. Achievement of experience

The trainees get assigned to an air traffic control facility as novel developmental controllers once they graduate from FAA Academy. They have to supply pilots with elementary airport and flight information in their job role. After they gain more experience, they have to offer greater responsibility to advance their positions in the control role.

6. Attain a certification

We already know that the FAA should certify the Air traffic controllers. To earn a certification, you have to pass a knowledge test and practical exam. Also, you have to meet the experience requirements well in on-the-job training. It normally takes two to four years to complete the training that gives full certification fully.

How to become an air traffic controller in Australia?

You are eligible to apply if you meet both the Residency and Educational eligibility requirements.

Residency requirements are as follows.

You must:

Be at least eighteen years old by the closing date of the application.
Be an Australian or New Zealand Citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.
Educational requirements are as follows.
You should provide evidence that you have one of the following requirements within the past ten years:
a Year 12 Certificate
a completed Tertiary Diploma
a completed Degree
a current Commercial Pilot Licence or Private Pilot Licence.

They will assess the International qualifications by an appropriate authority as equal to one of the above criteria.

How to become an air traffic controller in Ireland?

Applicants must be at least 19 years of age. They should also have passed five subjects in the Leaving Certificate (comprising English and Mathematics) with a Grade C in at least two upper-level papers. They might also accept an equivalent qualification.

How to become an air traffic controller in Europe?

Candidates who wish to become air traffic controllers usually need an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree from an AT-CTI program. Other applicants need to have three progressively responsible work experience of 3 years. They must also have completed four years of college, or else have a combination of both.

How to become an air traffic controller in New York?

The candidates must be U.S. citizens and also speak English. Similarly, they should not be older than 30 years of age (there might be limited exceptions). Candidates need to have a combination of three years of education and work experience. The applicants must also pass a medical examination, a security investigation in addition to FAA air traffic pre-employment tests.

How long does it take to be an air traffic controller?

The training program differs. On the other hand, it is roughly 12 months for the Tower stream plus 14 months for the Enroute stream. Also, on-the-job training periods might vary. For the training duration, candidates will work to the AVI50115 Diploma of Aviation (Air Traffic Control).

FAA academy usually takes two to five months to complete fully. But, it depends on the person’s experience. It may take another two to four years of on-the-job training, as we mentioned before, to become fully qualified. Air traffic controllers can become fully certified in as little as five years or as many as eight.

How to become an air traffic controller in the USA?

Here are the minimum requirements needed to become an air traffic controller in the USA.

Candidate must be a United States citizen.
He should be age 30 or under (this is based on the application period’s closing date).
Should pass a medical examination.
Should pass a security investigation.
Also, it should pass the test of FAA air traffic pre-employment.
Should have the ability to speak English clearly and confidently enough to be understood over communications equipment.
Should have three years of progressively accountable work experience, or else a Bachelor’s degree. Otherwise, the candidate should have a combination of post-secondary education plus work experience that sums three years.
Applicants should be willing to transfer to an FAA facility based upon agency staffing requirements.

What qualifications do you need to be an air traffic controller?

Skills and knowledge required by applicants.

concentration skills
the ability to use judgement and make decisions
knowledge of transport procedures, costs and benefits
exceptional verbal communication skills
thinking and reasoning skills
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
complex problem-solving skills
to be flexible and open to change
math skills
the ability to use a computer with the main software packages confidently

Entry requirements

Applicants usually need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or else equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship. However, the qualifications and entry requirements will slightly change according to different countries’ policies and needs.

How to become an air traffic controller without a degree?

Applicants who wish to become air traffic controllers usually need an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree from an AT-CTI program. However, other applicants who don’t have those qualifications must have three years of progressively accountable work experience, have accomplished four years of college, otherwise have a combination of both.

How to become an air traffic controller in India?

If somebody wants to be an Air Traffic Controller in India, candidates should have a Radio Engineering / Engineering Degree in Electronics / Telecommunication / Electrical otherwise a Master’s Degree in Electronics. Or else, they should have any discipline with electronics, radiophysics, telecoms specialization subjects or else Master’s with physics, math otherwise computer science with a First Class (60% or above).

Candidates who are preparing to become air traffic controllers need to have a bachelor’s degree (B.Sc in Science) and physics and mathematics as compulsory subjects. Or else, they should have a B.Tech/B.E. degree in any field, and they can apply for the Junior Executive Controller (ATC) post. The lowest pass percentage to apply for ATC is 60%

Air traffic controller salary

The average salary of an air traffic controller is around 102,000 LKR.

A person employed as an Air Traffic Controller in Sri Lanka normally earns about 102,000 LKR per month. However, the salaries range from 47,100 LKR (least) to 163,000 LKR (maximum). This is the rough average monthly salary comprising housing, transport, plus other benefits.

Summary

Air traffic controller jobs are not so hard to achieve if you have perfect goals to reach your target. If somebody needs to get an idea about this job profile, they can follow an air traffic controller course and grab some knowledge. Also, they can follow an air traffic controller course online to reach their targets. Air traffic controllers preserve the flow of aircraft in and out of airports and in flight. They are the key to aviation safety. This job is well-acknowledged as one of the most stressful jobs, needing total concentration. We hope you got some idea about becoming an air traffic controller through this article. If you are willing to become one, work hard to reach your target, and we wish you good luck!