FAA Air Traffic Control Navigating The Skies From The Ground

Air traffic control is a very important unit. It is the place that keeps everyone safe when they fly. The ones in charge of this safety system in the United States is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Since I have worked as a Flight Operations Officer for many years, I could closely see how much of an important job the FAA air traffic controllers do to ensure our flights are safe and on time. So, in this article, let’s explore the world of FAA air traffic control.

The mighty work of FAA air traffic control

Does the FAA run air traffic control? Yes. They run ATC for the United States and surrounding international waters. What does FAA air traffic control do? FAA ATC’s main goal is to make sure every flight goes smoothly, from takeoff to landing. They do this by,

Ensuring safety

FAA ATC controllers use radar and advanced communication systems to track airplanes, instruct pilots and warn them of potential dangers. They give clear instructions and ensure that the pilots understand and follow them. They work 24/7 to ensure that planes stay a safe distance apart to prevent crashes.

Air traffic clearance

They give clearances based on what is needed for the operation. They also set planes’ altitudes when they are flying in controlled airspace and ensure that pilots follow them.

Contact approach

They only give clearance for a contact approach if a pilot asks for it and if there’s good visibility at the airport. They also make sure there is a safe distance between planes.

Instrument approach

They give clearance for an instrument approach based on the other traffic and make sure planes follow the published routes.

Keep airports in order

Things can get busy on the ground, too. At airports, they manage how planes taxiing, take off, and land at airports. Thanks to them, airports do not have any mix-ups and can run other procedures efficiently.

Watching weather

Bad weather can be a disaster for airplanes. So, ATC monitors the weather and informs pilots about storms or other hazards. They even reroute planes to avoid dangerous weather patterns.

Keeping communication

Clear communication is essential in ATC. The controllers constantly talk to pilots in their area and give them precise instructions to keep the traffic flow smooth and organized.

Being there in emergencies

If something goes wrong with a plane in the air, ATC steps in as part of the emergency response team. They guide the aircraft to safety and work with other emergency services to handle the situation.

They also have other duties, such as ensuring the safety of procedures for missed approaches, issuing traffic advisories, sending out safety alerts, managing speed adjustments, and effectively applying visual separations.

FAA’s air traffic control system command center role of managing air traffic

The FAA’s air traffic control system command center is the central control room for all the planes in the United State’s sky. It oversees everything to do with planes flying in the country. Even though they do not talk directly to pilots, they are the ones who make plans to deal with anything that could cause problems for planes, like bad weather, space launches, military activity, VIP movements, and staffing limitations. 

They work with many different groups, such as Airlines for America, the National Business Aviation Association, the International Air Transport Association, major air traffic facilities, and airlines. They all work together and have regular meetings to discuss how to handle any problems that come up and make action plans.

Solving scarcity problems

One of the main things they have to deal with is when there are not enough resources, such as limited runway availability at major airports or when there’s less airspace available because of adverse weather or special circumstances like presidential movements. When this happens, they work with airlines and other groups to come up with ways to manage the traffic, like enroute flight adjustments, rerouting around weather, ground delay programs, and ground stops.

Making room for rockets

They also have to deal with space launches. Since private space launches are happening more and more often, the center works with commercial launch operators to manage the airspace and uses special tools like the Space Data Integrator to get information directly from the companies. 

Overall, the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center is like the main hub for managing all the air traffic in the United States. They work together with many different groups and make proactive decisions to handle any problems, manage resources, and integrate space operations.

Becoming an FAA air traffic controller

Have you ever thought about becoming an FAA air traffic controller one day? Then you are about to hear some good news. The FAA is actually hiring more and more people for FAA entry level air traffic controller positions every year. In 2023 they hired 1500 new controllers, and they’re planning to hire 1800 more in 2024.

How to become an FAA air traffic controller?

You can take three main paths to get into air traffic control FAA.

The FAA hiring route

This is the most common way. The FAA holds open hiring bids (OTS bids) throughout the year. As long as you meet the basic requirements, you can apply directly.

Military service

Another option is to join the military and become an air traffic controller there (Army, Air Force, or Navy).

College training

If you are going this route, you have to get a bachelor’s degree in air traffic control from a Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program. What are the FAA schools for air traffic control? Here is a list of approved AT-CTI schools you can enroll in.

• Aims community college
• Arizona state university
• Broward college
• Community college of baltimore county
• Community college of beaver county
• Embry riddle aeronautical university (Daytona & Prescott)
• Elizabeth city state university
• Farmingdale state college
• Florida institute of technology
• Florida memorial university
• Florida state college at jacksonville
• Green river college
• Hampton university
• Hesston college
• Inter-american university of puerto rico
• Jacksonville university
• Kent state university
• Lewis university
• Metropolitan state university of denver
• Miami dade college
• Middle georgia state university
• Mount san antonio college
• Purdue university
• Sacramento city college
• Southern new hampshire university
• Tulsa community college
• University of alaska anchorage
• University of north dakota
• University of oklahoma
• Vaughn college of aeronautics and technology

What are the FAA air traffic control requirements?

You’ll need to meet a few basic qualifications to apply to the air traffic control FAA.

• Be a US citizen.
• Be 30 years old or younger when the application period ends.
• Be able to speak English clearly.
• Have three years of work experience, a BA degree, or a combination of both that adds up to at least three years.
• Be willing to move to an FAA facility.

FAA’s longer hiring process for ATC

The FAA hiring process for ATCs can take a while. Sometimes it can even take a few months to get through some steps.

Apply

Are you eligible? Good. Then the first thing you should do is apply to the FAA’s hiring program on USAJobs. When does the FAA hire air traffic controllers? They open this OTS bid program once a year, usually between April and July. 

Make sure to submit your application through USAJobs and build a strong resume using their builder to reflect your experience accurately. Want more details on what documents you need to apply based on whether you are a CTI graduate, have previous experience, or are a veteran? Checkout Here.

Take the ATSA test

If you meet the basic requirements, you’ll be invited to take the ATSA test to assess your skills in air traffic control. They take this test in person at specific testing facilities, and it lasts about 3.5 hours.

Get medical & security clearance

Once your ATSA scores are calculated, the candidates with the highest scores will get a tentative offer letter (TOL). If you accept and sign your TOL, you will get entrance on duty system forms (EODS) that you need to sign within five days. Then, you will need to go through several steps.

• Get a security clearance
• Go through a federal background check
• Take a drug test
• Have a physical exam
• Take a psychological examination (MMPI2)
• Have a medical examination
• Get fingerprinted

This process can take up to nine months. After this, you will receive a Clearance of Information letter (CIL).

Training

Finally, the real training begins. Certified air traffic controller training is a lengthy process. It can take up to 3-4 years in total. It starts with you passing the FAA air traffic control academy.

FAA Air Traffic Control Academy

How long is the FAA academy for air traffic controllers? As a new trainee, you must attend the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City for an intense 3 to 5-month training program. The training period will depend on the specialty assigned to you, whether you are following Enroute, Terminal (Tower), or Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). Here, you will go through classroom instruction, simulations, and hands-on training under the FAA air traffic control course.

On-the-job training

The FAA will assign you to ATC facilities across the country after you graduate from the academy. Then, you will go through 1-3 years of on-the-job training. You will only become a Certified Professional Controller (CPC) after successfully completing this stage. Do I get paid while I train? Yes. Of course. As a trainee, you will earn $34,135 to $35,273 per year plus living expenses ($102.80 per day) during your time at the FAA Academy.

Different types of air traffic controller jobs

There are several types of FAA air traffic control jobs. After you pass the medical and security checks, you will be assigned to train for one of these positions at the academy.

• Enroute ATC – Controls large areas of airspace using radar and guides planes that fly between airports.
• Terminal ATC – Work in airport towers and manage takeoffs, landings, taxiing, and ground traffic.
• TRACON ATC – Handle arrivals and departures to and from airports.

FAA air traffic control salary

Air controllers take around $124,421 FAA air traffic control salary per year. But this salary is not constant. Based on the air traffic controller’s location, experience, and the complexity of the airspace they manage it can change.

Conclusion

Controllers at the FAA air traffic control do a great job to keep our skies safe and organized. We can never forget their skills, knowledge, and the commitment they give to make our air travel safe. FAA air traffic control does not just keep United States skies safe and it is very important to air travel of entire world.