Who are these men and women that the public doesn’t see and what role do they play in ensuring our safety? There are over 14,000 air traffic controllers in the United States and they are the experts who, through a series of complex maneuvers and operations, make sure that the skies are safe. They work around the clock—shift work, nights, weekends and holidays.
They are the unsung heroes—these men and women are the reason why millions of planes takeoff and get to their destinations safely and efficiently as possible each year.
Work Environment –Terminal, Tower, and Center
Air traffic controllers work in three main work environments. Terminal or radar controllers sit in front of computer screens in a dimly lit room for two hours at a time. The screens are filled with lines and dots; the lines are the highways of the skies and the dots are the aircraft that move along those lines. Each aircraft is traveling at different speeds, altitudes, and directions.
Tower controllers monitor flight patterns via computer screens and through visual observations. Their responsibility is to taxi all ground vehicles and aircraft to and from the runway.
Center controllers work in large radar rooms (about the size of a warehouse) and their locations may vary; sometimes they’re located near an airport, sometimes in a remote location that is central to many airports. These controllers are responsible for airspace that encompasses several states.
Whatever the location or position, a controller constantly monitors and makes split-second decisions on how to maneuver aircraft around each other so that each one stays separated by 1,000 feet. At times, they may be communicating with ten pilots simultaneously.
They must be able to not only employ the stringent regulations that are set up by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but be flexible enough to incorporate those regulations with their own instincts, predict the outcome of a decision, and change the initial plan if conditions warrant him/her to do so.
The Traits of and Skills Needed
Air traffic controllers must have superb multi-tasking skills, mathematical and probabilistic reasoning skills, excellent short and long term memory, and above-average spatial skills. He or she must complete an education program that is FAA approved, pass pre-employment screening tests, receive recommendations from an authorized school, and meet FAA’s basic qualification requirements.
They must pass a medical exam, undergo drug screening throughout their career, and obtain security clearance. Once they are assigned to a facility (public or private) they undergo a stringent training program. The training can take as long as two years depending on the size and complexity of the traffic and their every move, every decision, and verbiage they use to communicate is recorded and monitored by a trained and experienced controller.
Fast Facts
- On September 11, 2001, 4,546 aircraft were safely landed and the U.S. airspace was empty of all aircraft except military and emergency traffic within a four-hour time period because of the flawless operation and coordination between FAA controllers, supervisors, pilots, flight crews, dispatchers and automation systems.
- There are approximately 14,300 air traffic controllers that work for the FAA—a drastic decline from the nearly 16,000 from six years ago.
- Air traffic controllers are among a group of workers that are most exposed to critical accidents and stressors than any other profession and their jobs are known to be one of the most stressful jobs. .
- An air traffic controller can only have three operational or separation errors during their career and may be responsible for more money and lives in one shift than an average person during their entire life.
These men and women who make up part of a complex machine that allow individuals to get to their destinations should be recognized as heroes. They are the calm voice that guides pilots and aircraft through adverse weather conditions and without our knowledge or understanding, keep the skyways safe and secure.
References:
National Air Traffic Controllers Association
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