Air Traffic Control In The USA Is The Most Valuable Asset Of The Entire World

As a Flight Operation Officer, I have years of experience working with controllers at air traffic control in the USA. All those years I witnessed the incredible work they do to keep everyone safe in the US airspace. People do not see the hard work they do because they work inside the control towers or remote facilities. But without them no one can travel in the air ever. In this article let’s explore what happens inside this critical aviation system, what challenges they face, how you can get into air traffic control in the USA as a new hire and more.

The landscape of air traffic control in the USA

Air traffic control (ATC) is one of the most valuable parts of the USA aviation industry. Thanks to the ATC services, the National Airspace System (NAS) can keep air traffic safe, orderly, and efficient. What about the federal aviation administration (FAA)? They oversee ATC services. What is the main goal of the USA ATC system? They prevent planes from colliding, and they make sure air traffic moves safely, orderly, and quickly in the US airspace.

Air traffic control services of USA

The US government cannot keep NAS secure and efficient without air traffic control services. Here are some of the services they provide.

• airspace surveillance
• set separation standards
• give weather and radar services
• provide clearances
• track flight progress using different tools, like Flight Progress Strips and radar services.

They even give out help during emergencies as an extra service.

US air traffic control facilities

What are the three main types of air traffic control facilities in the US? FAA has set up different types of ATC facilities to manage traffic in different environments. They are,

• Air traffic control towers (ATCT)
• Terminal radar approach control (TRACON)
• Air route traffic control center (ARTCC)

Air traffic control towers

ATCTs usually handle high air traffic volumes at busy airports. They manage aircraft movements on the ground, near the airport, and during takeoff and landing. Here are some of their functions,

• Clearance delivery – Provide pre-departure clearances to pilots before they take off.
• Ground control – Manage aircraft movements on taxiways and runways.
• Tower control – Watch and coordinate the safe takeoff and landing of aircraft within the airport’s control zone.

Terminal radar approach control

TRACON facilities manage and control air traffic in the terminal areas around busy airports. They provide more services than ATCTs to a wider airspace and make sure arrival and departure traffic flow is safe and efficient. Here are some of their functions,

• Radar services – Use radar systems and provide air traffic controllers information about aircraft position information for effective traffic management.
• Approach/departure control – Coordinate and sequence aircraft for smooth transitions between the enroute and terminal airspace.

Air route traffic control center

ARTCC facilities manage high-altitude air traffic within specific regions that include various ATC sectors. They make sure airplanes follow instrument flight rules (IFR) during the enroute phase of their flights. How many air traffic control centers are there in the US? There are twenty two. Here are some of their functions,

• Enroute services – Provide air traffic services to aircraft during their travel between departure and destination airports.
• Airspace management – Coordinate the orderly and safe flow of traffic within their designated airspace sectors.
• Weather services – Offer weather updates and advisories to pilots flying through their controlled airspace.

How do I become an air traffic controller in USA?

Do you want to become an air traffic controller in the United States? Then get ready to follow air traffic control in the USA requirements below.

Educational background

It is not necessary to have a specific degree to become an air traffic controller, but if you have a one you will get an advantage. Why? It is because the FAA likes to hire candidates with both education and work experience. Most of the air traffic controllers I know have at least a high school diploma or a similar qualification.

Initial assessment

Your journey’s first step is taking the air traffic skills assessment (AT-SA) exam. There are two parts in this exam, a biographical assessment and a cognitive assessment.

Application process

Then you need to apply through the FAA’s job website when applications are open. To be eligible to become an air traffic controller, you need to be,

• a citizen of United States 
• at least eighteen years old
• and pass medical and security background checks.

Basic training

Did they select you? Awesome. Your next step is to complete the air traffic control basics course at the FAA academy in Oklahoma City.

Advanced training

Finishing the basics course is not the end. After that you will need to go through an intense training at the FAA Academy based on your assigned air traffic control area.

On-the-job experience

Did you successfully complete the academy training? Congratulations! Now the FAA will assign you to an air traffic control facility for on-the-job training. Here you will work under experienced controller’s supervision, and you will gradually start controlling live air traffic.

Certification process

During on-the-job training, you need to get a facility rating. It certifies you to work as a certified professional air traffic controller at your assigned facility.

Air traffic control in the USA jobs

With USA ATC, you can get job security, good benefits, and the satisfaction of being a valuable member who keeps USA aviation safe. Let’s look at some of these valuable air traffic control in the USA jobs and what you will do in those jobs now.

Tactical air control party specialist (TACP)

As an air control party specialist, you direct air strikes and provide close air support for ground troops.

Aviation safety inspector

As a safety inspector, you will do tasks like inspecting aircraft, checking maintenance records, and investigating accidents and make sure that aviation operations are safe.

Air traffic control specialist

As an air traffic control specialist, your job is to make sure air traffic flow is safe, in order, and fast. As for your tasks you will control air and ground traffic, process flight plan data, and set up tactical air traffic control facilities.

Air traffic control operator (Enlisted army)

In this job, you will control air and ground traffic for safety, process flight plan data, and help set up tactical air traffic control facilities on the front lines.

Air traffic control / safety risk management facilitator

As facilitator, you will review and oversee processes related to aircraft accidents, aircraft incidents, air traffic evaluations, and audits.

Air traffic control training and standardization manager

In this job, you will oversee the training and standardization of air traffic control procedures. You will oversee ATC rules knowledge, regulations, and techniques, and control tower and approach control operations.

Air traffic control maintenance technician

As a maintenance technician, you will maintain and repair air traffic control communication and navigation aids systems.

Air traffic control functional/SME representative

In this job, you will provide expertise to the FAA’s standard terminal automation replacement system.

Quality control inspector

As a quality control inspector, you will make sure that all ATC operations follow safety and quality standards.

Air traffic controller instructor

As an instructor, you will train new air traffic controllers.

Air traffic control liaison controller-in-charge

As a liaison controller-in-charge, you will provide air traffic guidance to host nation controllers in the interest of flight safety.

Air traffic control in the USA salary

Since USA air traffic controllers have one of the most valuable jobs in the country and are highly skilled, their work is demanding. Because of that they earn good salaries. On average, you can make about $100,810 a year as an air traffic controller. The lowest 20% air traffic controllers earn around $55,908 a year. And the highest 20% air traffic controllers make up to $181,772 a year.

Who employs the most air traffic controllers in the US?

It is actually the FAA. They are not only controlling the US airspace, but they also have the most controllers with them too.

Is there a shortage of air traffic controllers in the USA?

Yes. FAA is facing an air traffic controller shortage nowadays. They are short about 3,000 controllers for their daily operations.

Conclusion

Today the USA aviation industry cannot exist without air traffic control in the USA. That is how valuable this unit is to the country. The controllers work all day to keep airspace safe and efficient. Do you have a dream to step into air traffic control in the USA? Then you should remember that you are not just getting a high demanding job with an exclusive salary; you are taking responsibility for millions of lives taking flights every day.