How do I start a career in air traffic control?
Here are the basic steps you can take to become an air traffic controller:
- Pursue an education.
- Meet the Federal Aviation Administration requirements.
- Pass the qualifying tests for an FAA training program.
- Complete an FAA training program.
- Gain experience.
- Obtain a certification.
Is air traffic control a boring job?
So is it the world’s most stressful job? Well, it is undoubtedly one of the most responsible, but although there are times when it is highly stressful, a lot of the time it is very routine. At night it can be very quiet and rather dull when you have over 8 hours of very little to sit through and maintain alertness.
What tools do air traffic controllers use?
The Air Traffic Controllers today are served by many types of radar equipment such as Primary Surveillance Radars (PSR), Secondary Surveillance Radars (SSR), and Mode S for monitoring traffic in the air, and Surface Movement Radars (SMR) for traffic on the ground.
How hard are air traffic controllers?
To get these benefits, career opportunities, and more, you will first need to meet the basic pre-employment requirements and pass the FAA air traffic controller AT-SA test. The AT-SA test is a difficult test with only 8% of applicants passing the required exam.
How much does FAA academy cost?
What You Need to Know
| Training | Training is available through the FAA, the military, or a college training program approved of by the FAA |
|---|---|
| Degrees | Avionics, aircraft maintenance, air traffic control and aviation management degrees are available |
| Cost (60 Credits) | $10,000 – $35,000 |
Do air traffic controllers make good money?
The median annual wage for air traffic controllers was $130,420 in May 2020. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $72,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $184,780.
Do traffic controllers earn good money?
There have been stories of Traffic Controllers earning between $100,000 and $180,000 in recent years. Seek lists the salary for a Traffic Controller as between $55,000 and $65,000 per year. Depending on the job you get, you can expect to work 8 to 10 hour shifts.
Why do air traffic controllers have to retire at 56?
Almost universally, trainee controllers begin work in their twenties and retire in their fifties. This is due to an FAA requirement that trainees begin their training at the Academy no later than their 31st birthday, and face mandatory retirement at age 56.