Air Traffic Control Career Field - Essay Example

Air Traffic Control Career Field Your name Course name Course Instructor Date of Submission Air Traffic Control Career Field The international aviation system is vibrant, complex, and critical to the world's economic well-being and growth. Harmonization of practices, rules, procedures and standards is vital to bring about global improvements. Technical training and staff development will continue to play a vital role in fostering effective changes. Technical assistance in international civil aviation takes many forms, but at its heart is training. The primary source of FAA aviation training is the FAA Academy located at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Aeronautical Center is a vital service and support facility for the FAA and the Department of Transportation (DOT) (Matsson, 2006). The Center's primary functions are training, logistics, research and service. The Center is home to the largest concentration of employees in the Department. Almost every aviation-related activity is supported by the Center's vast facilities and operations. Access to FAA and other DOT operational resources enhances training and provides a very effective learning environment. In addition to the FAA Academy, the Center is home to the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI), the Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI), and the U.S. Coast Guard Institute. These organizations provide specialized technical training in aviation and related transportation safety and security areas. TSI is the primary source of training in transportation safety for DOT and other federal agencies (Matsson, 2006). TSI's safety training programs have a direct impact on DOT's mission to reduce deaths and injuries in transportation. CAMI is the medical certification, research, education, and occupational health wing of the FAA's Office of Aviation Medicine. CAMI promotes aviation safety through aero medical education programs, which select, train and evaluate Aviation Medical Examiners, and train pilots and FAA aircrews in physiological and survival skills. The Coast Guard Institute is responsible for administering correspondence study courses and advancement examinations used for Coast Guard training. Matsson (2006) asserts that this catalog outlines the range of FAA training available for international participants. It contains brief descriptions of resident courses offered at the FAA Academy and the Transportation Safety Institute, and describes FAA capabilities to provide customized training to meet specific needs. Training for international aviation officials is also available from selected companies in the aviation industry, at academic institutions, and at other FAA facilities. Technical training outside the Academy encompasses a wide spectrum of colleges, universities, vocational schools, and specialized training institutions located in the United States. Familiarization and on-the-job training at FAA facilities can often be arranged in conjunction with formal training programs. According to Nolan (2003), the FAA has representatives in several countries outside the United States. These representatives are responsible for the overall coordination and liaison of all FAA activities in designated geographic areas. They are available to respond to inquiries concerning FAA technical assistance and training. For further information on the FAA's international training programs contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or contact the FAA directly: There are three main pathways to become an air traffic controller with the FAA. The first is air traffic controllers with prior experience through either the FAA or the Department of Defense as a civilian or veteran. Second are applicants from the general public. These applicants must have 3 years of progressively responsible full-time work experience, have completed a full 4 years of college, or a combination of both (Nolan, 2003). In combining education and experience, 1 year of undergraduate study—30 semester or 45 quarter hours—is equivalent to 9 months of work experience. The third way is for an applicant to have successfully completed an aviation-related program of study through the FAA’s Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. In 2008, there were 31 schools in the AT-CTI program (Nolan, 2003). AT-CTI program schools offer 2–year or 4-year non-engineering degrees that teach basic courses in aviation and air traffic control. In addition to graduation, AT-CTI candidates need a recommendation from their school before being considered for employment as an air traffic controller by the FAA. Nolan (2003) stipulates that candidates with prior experience as air traffic controllers are automatically qualified for FAA air traffic controller positions. However, applicants from the general public and the AT-CTI program must pass the FAA-authorized pre-employment test that measures their ability to learn the duties of a controller. The test is administered by computer and takes about 8 hours to complete. To take the test, an applicant must apply under an open advertisement for air traffic control positions and be chosen to take the examination. When there are many more applicants than available testing positions, applicants are selected randomly. However, the FAA guarantees that all AT-CTI students in good standing in their programs will be given the FAA pre-employment test. Those who achieve a qualifying score on the test become eligible for employment as an air traffic controller. Candidates must be granted security and medical clearance and are subject to drug screening. Additionally, applicants must meet other basic qualification requirements in accordance with Federal law. These requirements include United States citizenship and the ability to speak English. Upon selection, employees attend the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, OK, for 12 weeks of training, during which they learn the fundamentals of the airway system, FAA regulations, controller equipment, and aircraft performance characteristics, as well as more specialized tasks. Graduates of the AT-CTI program are eligible to bypass the Air Traffic Basics Course, which is the first 5 weeks of qualification training at the FAA Academy (Hamilton, 2011). After graduation from the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, candidates are assigned to an air traffic control facility and are classified as “developmental controllers” until they complete all requirements to be certified for all of the air traffic control positions within a defined area of a given facility. Generally, it takes new controllers with only initial controller training between 2 and 4 years, depending on the facility and the availability of facility staff or contractors to provide on-the-job training, to complete all the certification requirements to become certified professional controllers. Individuals who have had prior controller experience normally take less time to become fully certified (Hamilton, 2011). Controllers who fail to complete either the academy or the on-the-job portions of the training usually are dismissed. Controllers must pass a physical examination each year and a job performance examination twice each year. Failure to become certified in any position at a facility within a specified time also may result in dismissal. Controllers also are subject to drug screenings as a condition of continuing employment. According to Hamilton (2011), air traffic controllers must be articulate to give pilots directions quickly and clearly. Intelligence and a good memory also are important because controllers constantly receive information that they must immediately grasp, interpret, and remember. Decisiveness also is required because controllers often have to make quick decisions. The ability to concentrate is crucial because controllers must make these decisions in the midst of noise and other distractions. At airports, new controllers begin by supplying pilots with basic flight data and airport information. They then advance to the position of ground controller, local controller, departure controller, and, finally, arrival controller (Hamilton, 2011). At an air route traffic control center, new controllers first deliver printed flight plans to teams, gradually advancing to radar associate controller and then to radar controller. Controllers can transfer to jobs at different locations or advance to supervisory positions, including management or staff jobs—such as air traffic control data systems computer specialist—in air traffic control, and top administrative jobs in the FAA. However, there are only limited opportunities for a controller to switch from a position in an en route center to a tower. Employment of air traffic controllers is projected to grow by 13 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations (Hamilton, 2011). Increasing air traffic will require more controllers to handle the additional work. Job growth, however, is not expected to keep pace with the increasing number of aircraft flying due to advances in. The FAA is implementing an automated air traffic control system that will allow controllers to more efficiently deal with the demands of increased air traffic. It includes the replacement of aging equipment and the introduction of new systems, technologies, and procedures to enhance safety and security and support future aviation growth (Hamilton, 2011). Future developments will include the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to eliminate radar-based air traffic control and give controllers real-time displays of aircraft locations. This will allow for more efficient flight paths and reduced air traffic congestion, and it will also allow controllers to handle more traffic, increasing their productivity. Most job opportunities are expected as the result of replacement needs from workers leaving the occupation. The majority of today's air traffic controllers will be eligible to retire over the next decade, although not all are expected to do so (Gesell, 2005). Despite the increasing number of job openings for air traffic controllers, competition to get into the FAA Academy is expected to remain keen, as there generally are many more test applicants than there are openings. Air traffic controllers who continue to meet the proficiency and medical requirements enjoy more job security than do most workers. While demand for air transportation declines during recessions, controllers are rarely laid off (Gesell, 2005). Air traffic controllers earn relatively high pay and have good benefits. Median annual wages of air traffic controllers in May 2008 were $111,870. The middle 50 percent earned between $71,050 and $143,780. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,020, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $161,010. The average annual salary, excluding overtime earnings, for air traffic controllers in the Federal Government which employs 90 percent of all controllers, was $109,218 in March 2009. The Air Traffic Control pay system classifies each air traffic facility into one of eight levels with corresponding pay bands. Under this pay system, controllers' salaries are determined by the rating of the facility. Higher ratings usually mean higher controller salaries and greater demands on the controller's judgment, skill, and decision-making ability. Depending on length of service, air traffic controllers receive 13 to 26 days of paid vacation and 13 days of paid sick leave each year, in addition to life insurance and health benefits. Controllers also can retire at an earlier age and with fewer years of service than other Federal employees. Air traffic controllers are eligible to retire at age 50 with 20 years of service as an active air traffic controller or after 25 years of active service at any age. There is a mandatory retirement age of 56 for controllers who manage air traffic. However, Federal law provides for exemptions to the mandatory age of 56, up to age 61 in certain cases, but controllers must have exceptional skills and experience (Gesell, 2005). Earnings and benefits for controllers working in contract towers or flight service stations may vary. Many air traffic controllers hold union membership, primarily with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. An interesting alternative to working in the private sector is a career in government. Many highly responsible aviation positions are to be found in the FAA and other Federal agencies. In addition, state and local government agencies are involved in aviation. Among its many functions in aviation, the FAA is responsible for controlling the movement of aircraft throughout the nation, establishing and maintaining electronic navigation aids, licensing pilots and aircraft mechanics, and certifying the airworthiness of aircraft. A major source of aviation careers lies in jobs with federal, state and local government agencies. Civil aviation careers in the Federal Government for men and women are found within the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration; the Civil Aeronautics Board; and a growing number of other Federal departments and agencies. All of these aviation jobs come under the Federal Civil Service, and wage scales are determined by Congress, which, from time to time, adjusts the pay levels to bring them in line with comparable jobs in private business and industry (Hamilton, 2011). Salaries for Federal Civil Service employees are established into two chief categories: General Schedule (for those employees who perform administrative, managerial, technical, clerical and professional jobs and who are paid on an annual basis) and the Federal Wage System (for those employees who perform jobs associated with the trades and crafts and who are paid wages on an hourly basis). Most federal employees under Civil Service participate in a liberal retirement plan. Employees earn from 13 to 26 days of paid annual vacation, depending upon the length of service, and 13 days of paid sick leave each year. Health insurance, low-cost group life insurance, credit union service, and compensation and medical care for injury on the job are other benefits offered. The largest number of aviation jobs found within the Federal Government (outside the Department of Defense) is with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the Department of Transportation. The FAA, with a total of approximately 47,000 employees, is charged with the administration and enforcement of all federal air regulations to insure the safety of air transportation (Hamilton, 2011). The FAA also promotes guides and assists the development of a national system of civil airports. The FAA provides pilots with flight information and air traffic control services from flight planning to landing. Terminal area controllers separate landing and departing aircraft. They transfer control of aircraft on instrument flights to the ARTCC controller when the aircraft leaves their airspace, and they receive control of aircraft on instrument flights coming into their airspace from controllers at adjacent facilities. They must be able to quickly recall registration numbers of aircraft under their control, the aircraft types and speeds, positions in the air, and also the location of navigational aids or landmarks in the area. The ARTCC controllers give aircraft instructions, air traffic clearances, and advice regarding flight conditions during the enroute portion of flights. They provide separation between aircraft flying along the Federal airways or operating into or out of airports not served by a terminal facility (Wells, 2004). Center controllers use radar or manual procedures to keep track of the progress of all instrument flights within the center's airspace. The controllers transfer control of aircraft to the controllers in the adjacent center or to the approach control or terminal when the aircraft enters that facility's airspace. Center controllers are required to use computer equipment, radio, radar, telephones, and other electronic communication devices. Due to the radar equipment, they work in semi-darkness, and unlike the controllers in airport traffic control towers, they never see the aircraft they control except as "targets" on the radar scope. Air traffic control specialists also work in flight service stations. They provide pre-flight, in-flight, and emergency assistance to all pilots on request. They communicate information about actual and forecast weather conditions for a specific flight, relay air traffic control instructions, assist pilots in emergencies, provide airport advisory service, and initiate and participate in searches for missing or overdue aircraft. Air traffic controllers who are age 56 with 20 years creditable service under the special provisions for air traffic controllers are subject to mandatory separation, unless your activity has requested an exemption (Wells, 2004). If you reach age 56 and do not have 20 years of service under the special retirement provisions, you may remain in your position until you have reached 20 years of service. Mandatory separation does not apply to employees who are eligible for retirement under the special provisions but are not currently occupying an air traffic controller position. If you are subject to mandatory separation, you will receive a notice from the Civilian Benefits Center at least 60 days before the separation date. The mandatory separation will be effective the last day of the month in which both age and length of service requirements are met. Nearly half of the air traffic controllers in the United States will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 during the next three years, thus further aggravating an acute shortage of controllers across the country, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. About 7,100 controllers, mostly men, will have to retire by 2012 because in the 1960s it was decided that it's not safe to leave controllers on the job past that age due to the well established cognitive and physical declines associated with normal aging. But that's poor policy based on outdated information, according to a new study out of the University of Illinois (Wells, 2005). The study, published in the current issue of The Journal of Experimental Psychology, found that experience offsets the losses of aging, and, in fact, older controllers were at least as adept as their younger counterparts when it came to managing the most difficult situations that plague the nation's crowded airways. "The question we posit is can age by itself be a barrier to someone performing a task as complex as air traffic control," Ashley Nunes, lead author of the study, said in a telephone interview. "The simple answer we find is no, within the scope of the age ranges examined, there is little scientific justification for usage of age as a barrier." Or, as the study concludes: "In the face of age-related declines on basic cognitive abilities, older controllers were able to maintain high levels of performance on a variety of increasingly complex and difficult air traffic control tasks. References Gesell, L. (2005). Aviation and the Law, 4th Ed. L.L.C.: Coast Aire Publications. Hamilton, J. (2011). Practical Aviation Law5th Ed. New York: Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. Matsson, P. (2006). Air Traffic Control Career Prep. New York: Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. Nolan, M. (2003). Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control, 4th Ed. Oxford: Brooks Cole. Wells, T. (2004). Airport Planning & Management 5th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional. Read More

Familiarization and on-the-job training at FAA facilities can often be arranged in conjunction with formal training programs. According to Nolan (2003), the FAA has representatives in several countries outside the United States. These representatives are responsible for the overall coordination and liaison of all FAA activities in designated geographic areas. They are available to respond to inquiries concerning FAA technical assistance and training. For further information on the FAA's international training programs contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or contact the FAA directly: There are three main pathways to become an air traffic controller with the FAA.

The first is air traffic controllers with prior experience through either the FAA or the Department of Defense as a civilian or veteran. Second are applicants from the general public. These applicants must have 3 years of progressively responsible full-time work experience, have completed a full 4 years of college, or a combination of both (Nolan, 2003). In combining education and experience, 1 year of undergraduate study—30 semester or 45 quarter hours—is equivalent to 9 months of work experience.

The third way is for an applicant to have successfully completed an aviation-related program of study through the FAA’s Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. In 2008, there were 31 schools in the AT-CTI program (Nolan, 2003). AT-CTI program schools offer 2–year or 4-year non-engineering degrees that teach basic courses in aviation and air traffic control. In addition to graduation, AT-CTI candidates need a recommendation from their school before being considered for employment as an air traffic controller by the FAA.

Nolan (2003) stipulates that candidates with prior experience as air traffic controllers are automatically qualified for FAA air traffic controller positions. However, applicants from the general public and the AT-CTI program must pass the FAA-authorized pre-employment test that measures their ability to learn the duties of a controller. The test is administered by computer and takes about 8 hours to complete. To take the test, an applicant must apply under an open advertisement for air traffic control positions and be chosen to take the examination.

When there are many more applicants than available testing positions, applicants are selected randomly. However, the FAA guarantees that all AT-CTI students in good standing in their programs will be given the FAA pre-employment test. Those who achieve a qualifying score on the test become eligible for employment as an air traffic controller. Candidates must be granted security and medical clearance and are subject to drug screening. Additionally, applicants must meet other basic qualification requirements in accordance with Federal law.

These requirements include United States citizenship and the ability to speak English. Upon selection, employees attend the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, OK, for 12 weeks of training, during which they learn the fundamentals of the airway system, FAA regulations, controller equipment, and aircraft performance characteristics, as well as more specialized tasks. Graduates of the AT-CTI program are eligible to bypass the Air Traffic Basics Course, which is the first 5 weeks of qualification training at the FAA Academy (Hamilton, 2011).

After graduation from the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, candidates are assigned to an air traffic control facility and are classified as “developmental controllers” until they complete all requirements to be certified for all of the air traffic control positions within a defined area of a given facility. Generally, it takes new controllers with only initial controller training between 2 and 4 years, depending on the facility and the availability of facility staff or contractors to provide on-the-job training, to complete all the certification requirements to become certified professional controllers.

Individuals who have had prior controller experience normally take less time to become fully certified (Hamilton, 2011).

Read More