Atc Collage

Posted in art supplies on 06/30/2010 07:36 pm by admin

Atc Collage

If you’re detail-oriented, are fascinated with airplanes, and are interested in a starting salary that can run close to $100,000, you might consider becoming an air traffic controller. The U.S. government plans to hire thousands of controllers in the years ahead, making it an especially promising field. Since most of the current controllers are expected to retire by 2011, there’s a real need for people who are willing to take up the air traffic control challenge. Also, because of the large number of airports around the country, if you live in a major metropolitan area, chances are there’s a need for controllers in your geographical region.

The primary responsibility of an air traffic controller is to coordinate the movement of airplanes to ensure that air traffic moves in an orderly fashion. As a result, it’s a position of tremendous responsibility, since a controller is called upon to make decisions that can literally save lives.

In order to qualify to become an air traffic controller, you need to have four years of college or three years of experience working full-time. If you have no experience in air traffic control, you’ll also need to complete a computerized eight-hour pre-employment exam.

Once hired, you’ll be attending a ten week training session, where you’ll have an opportunity to work on a simulator device which enables you to get a feel for what it’s really like to direct air traffic. After you complete that training, you’ll have to work and train for several more years before you will be considered fully qualified.

While the training process can be quite challenging, those who complete it say it’s well worth the effort. That’s because the work of an air traffic controller can be incredibly rewarding—not only financially, but also in terms of overall job satisfaction.

L. Charles Fernandez is the creator of the Six Figure Jobs Blog, a guide to finding six figure jobs in unlikely fields.

How to become an Air Traffic Controller ?

Im interested in becoming an ATC. Im going to a collage that has an aviation program and it takes about two years. is two years enough or do i need more training ??

The two years of college is fine. ( I assume this is a CTI program though) The education you receive in college will NOT develop the skill sets required to be certified as an air traffic controller. The college ATC programs are designed to provide you a fundamental knowledge base. There you will be exposed to information regarding weather, routing, regulations, navigation, as well as exposure to the type of information and ideas that exist in the work environment today. At the better schools, you may also perform in lab scenarios that will examine your "aptitude" for this job.

Satisfactory completion of a CTI program will place you on a hiring list for the FAA. From there you will spend a few months at the FAA academy going through another crash course on this information. You probably won't learn anything new here but now your test scores and aptitude puts you career on the line. Near the end of the classroom portion of the Academy, you will then again return to the labs to continue to hone your skills in multi-tasking and your decision making and understanding of the materials will be evaluated.

Completing the academy will get you to your first duty location, this is where the real learning begins. Here you will be required to memorize and regurgitate vast amounts of information. You will memorize maps, procedures, operating practices, frequencies, co-ordinations, aircraft characteristics, weather impacts, resposiblities...the list goes on and on. That is all before you talk to your first real airplane on a frequency~ ..and it only get's harder from there.

I don't want you to feel that the college programs are useless. The information you get there will give you a better perspective of what it is this job entails. Which may just encourage you to keep going or perhaps prompt you to find another career. I graduated with 7 other people in my CTI class. Only myself and two others are controllers now. I don't recommend buying into any hype though. Schools like Embry-riddle offer 4 year programs for an insane amount of tuition. I would recommend a two year program from a well respected school instead.

ATC Workshops - Stourbridge College