Air Traffic Controllers

Description

Ever see an airplane take off or land? It's an awesome sight at any angle, but imagine having a bird's eye view, all day every day. Air traffic controllers do have a great view, but they also have a huge responsibility: they advise pilots when it's safe to take off and land, and on which runway. A lot of people's lives depend on the cool-headed judgment of these professionals. Are you up to the challenge?

Simply put, air traffic controllers direct aircraft from a glass-walled room at the top of a tower. They control planes in the air usually within a five- to 15-km radius of the airport, and they also control the movements of aircraft and airport service vehicles on the ground. Included in this job classification are other members of the air traffic team: flight dispatchers, who authorize airline flights over assigned routes; and flight service specialists, who provide pilots with flight information essential to aviation safety.

Specific duties

Air traffic controllers perform some or all of the following duties:

• control flow of air traffic within assigned airspace using radar monitors, radio and other communication equipment and visual references
  
• issue aircraft takeoff and landing instructions to pilots and relay meteorological, navigational and other information to pilots in flight keep landing and departing aircraft safe distances apart
  
• maintain radio and telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units and other area control centres, and co-ordinate movement of aircraft into adjoining areas
  
• alert airport emergency services when aircraft are experiencing difficulties and report missing aircraft to search and rescue services
  
• direct activities of all moving aircraft and service vehicles on or near airport runways.
  

Air traffic controllers specialize in VFR (Visual Flight Rules) or IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) control. Straight line of sight enables VFR controllers to identify and resolve visual air traffic conflicts. IFR controllers use radar, procedural standards and the Northern Airspace Display System (NADS).

Related careers

You might be also be interested in these careers that have similar educational and/or training requirements, or that share similar duties.

• Dispatchers & Radio Operators
• Pilots, Flight Engineers & Instructors
• Railway & Marine Traffic Regulators

High school path

A CareerMATTERS consultant suggests these high school courses would be helpful. They are not pre-requisites to post secondary programs, nor are they necessary to obtain employment. You should consult with your school counsellor to make the best choices for your own career path.

Recommended Courses
Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
English
ENG1D English, Grade 9, Academic or ENG1P English, Grade 9, Applied	ENG2D English, Grade 10, Academic or ENG2P English, Grade 10, Applied	ENG3C English, Grade 11, College Preparation	ENG4C English, Grade 12, College Preparation
Math
MFM1P Foundations of Mathematics, Grade 9, Applied or MPM1D Principles of Mathematics, Grade 9, Academic	MFM2P Foundations of Mathematics, Grade 10, Applied or MPM2D Principles of Mathematics, Grade 10, Academic	MBF3C Foundations for College Mathematics, Grade 11, College Preparation	MAP4C Foundations for College Mathematics, Grade 12, College Preparation or MCT4C Mathematics for College Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation
Science
SNC1D Science, Grade 9, Academic or SNC1P Science, Grade 9, Applied	SNC2D Science, Grade 10, Academic or SNC2P Science, Grade 10, Applied	SNC3M Science, Grade 11, University/College Preparation	SNC4M Science, Grade 12, University/College Preparation
Optional
TTI1O Integrated Technologies, Grade 9, Open	TGJ2O Communications Technology, Grade 10, Open or TIK2O Computer and Information Science, Grade 10, Open	ICS3M Computer and Information Science, Grade 11, University/College Preparation or TGJ3M Communications Technology, Grade 11, University/College Preparation	ICS4M Computer and Information Science, Grade 12, University/College Preparation or TGJ4M Communications Technology, Grade 12, University/College Preparation

* a job shadowing/co-op experience is recommended

Post-secondary options

• A basic radio telephone operator's licence is required.
  
• Air traffic controllers and flight service specialists require completion of a NAV Canada training program, which includes structured in-class and on-the-job training. (NAV Canada is the private corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil ANS, or air navigation service.)
  
• Air traffic controllers require an air traffic controller's licence. Flight dispatchers may require experience in air traffic control or flight operations and may require a private pilot's licence.
  

There may be several different paths to a career. Post-secondary education or training programs will help, but they are not a guarantee. You should research your options carefully before deciding on any program of study. Click here for a comparison chart of institutions or accreditations.

The following programs offered at Ontario post-secondary institutions may be helpful in pursuing a career in this field. In addition to the institutions listed here, please refer to "For more information" (at left) for a list of organizations and associations that may also offer programs of study.

Institution	Programs offered
University
University of Western Ontario	Administrative & Commercial Studies: Commercial Aviation Management-Flight Training (BACS)
College
Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley (Pembroke)	Commercial Pilot and Aviation Management Program
Confederation College	Aviation Flight Management
Georgian College	Aviation Management
Other
Empire Aviation	Commercial Aviation Management Program
Seneca College-School of Aviation and Flight Technology	Applied Technology-Flight Program

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Career path

Wondering how you could prepare for a career in this field? Or what else you might do once you have some experience?

With more experience, you get to control more planes!

Employers

These are examples of the places, businesses and industries that employ people in this field:

Air traffic controllers and flight specialists are employed by NAV Canada and the armed forces. Flight dispatchers are employed by airline and air service companies and by the armed forces.

Work environment

Stress? You bet. Split-second decisions, always on the alert, knowing one bad call could cost lives...then there's the shift work. You'll work a standard workweek in terms of hours, but you'll be on rotating shifts, so you won't necessarily get weekends–or evenings–off. On the plus side is a comfortable working environment (very well-lit!), the satisfaction of being part of an extremely useful process in air safety, and hey, you'll probably never tire of that bird's eye view!

Common job titles

Also Known As....

Air traffic controller (ATC)
Airport air traffic controller
Enroute air traffic controller
Flight dispatcher
Terminal air traffic controller

For more information

Links to associations, organizations, unions and other places that may be able to provide more information.

• Canadian Air Traffic Control Association

• Nav Canada
  This is the private corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation service. The site has lots of clear, well-written information about careers and the industry in general. (Did you know the Canadian system of air traffic control is used as a model around the world?)

• Take Flight Videos
  We're including this aviation-video producing company here for its impressive number of links to sites about airplanes, flight training, aircraft maintenance, exhibitions and events, airports, airshows, aviation art, aviation history and museums, hobbies, safety and schools.

• Transport Canada