WHAT IS
AN ATC?
Air traffic controllers are persons who operate the air traffic control system to expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic and help prevent mid-air collisions. They apply separation rules to keep each aircraft apart from others in their area of responsibility and move all aircraft efficiently through their airspace and on to the next. Because controllers have a large responsibility while on duty, the ATC profession is often regarded as one of the most difficult jobs today and can be notoriously stressful. Controllers, however, would point out their job is not as stressful as some may think: While there are periods of high workload which can be hectic, the benefits of the job include quiet night shifts and very good pay. Although the media frequently refers to them as "air controllers", no controller ever would. They are called air traffic controllers, air traffic control officers (ATCOs), air traffic control specialists, or simply controllers.
CORE SKILLS
OF A CONTROLLER
Air traffic controllers are generally individuals with excellent memory and spatial awareness, are quick with numeric computational skills, are assertive but calm under pressure and are able to follow and apply rules yet be flexible when necessary. Almost universally, trainee controllers begin work in their twenties and retire in their fifties. Rigid physical and psychological tests are a requirement. Excellent vision, hearing and superior speaking skills are also a must. Controllers must take precautions to remain healthy and avoid certain medications that are banned for controllers.
Most training focuses on honing the ability to absorb data quickly from a variety of sources. Controllers use this to visualize, in time and space, the position of each aircraft under control and to project this forward into the near future. This skill is termed "situational awareness" (having the picture or having the flick) and is central to the job. Maintaining a constantly moving visual scan among all aircraft under one's control, without "fixating" on a particular situation, is how controllers help maintain this overall flick. This is then used to make relatively simple rule-based decisions very quickly and accurately to keep aircraft separated in the sky while moving traffic as expeditiously as possible and presenting the traffic in an orderly and useful manner to the next sector."http://en.wikipedia.org
As an air traffic controller you will be able to select from many different roles. Today as an air traffic controller you are not just controlling aircraft all over the world. There are several different roles as an air traffic controller. Ground Control, Local or Tower Control, Clearance Delivery, Approach and Terminal Control and En-route or Center Control. Each one of these controllers are in charge of controlling aircraft within their sector. Sectors are divided up by airspace from altitude and several other elements that we wont go into at this time. If you wish to learn more about the airspace and related information, not covered within the preceding section, you can check out the Air Traffic Control Training outline for more detailed information. Each controller is in charge of all aircraft within their sector of airspace. Each airport with air traffic control operations may not always have each one of these controllers at the location. Each airport has their own operations depending on the level of aircraft in and out of the airport. Today, international airports such as Detroit Metro and Chicago O'Hare have all of the above controllers. These airports have a lot of traffic coming in and out of the airspace at any given second. To add to the fact that large airports have all of the above controllers, they generally have multiple controllers for each position.
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