What does an air traffic controller do?
An air traffic controller specializes in overseeing and directing airspace traffic, all while maintaining an active line of communication with aircraft to ensure safe and efficient air travels. Generally assigned in ground control centers and towers, an air traffic controller's responsibilities revolve around utilizing technology to monitor flight paths, weather, and airport runways to guide pilots and airport personnel, coordinating with other control officers, inspecting and maintaining instruments and equipment in good condition, and alerting departments and assigned personnel should there be any emergencies.
Air traffic controller responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real air traffic controller resumes:
- Lead recruitment and training for first ever associate operational combat flying organization.
- Assign as SME for the Milstar AFCPT maintenance course.
- Represent the hospital by attending the monthly APIC meetings.
- Comply with all AWP policies, procedures and safety requirements.
- Have certification in traffic control, CPR, and OSHA.
- Assist in the creation of several (NOTAMS) notice to airmen.
- Keep equipment and AWP company trucks well organize and in working order.
- Gain various forms of training including CPR, first aide, A.E.D.
- Serve as limited weather observer, relay field conditions and NOTAMS to aircraft.
- Provide taxiing, takeoff, and landing clearances to users of the NAS.
- Used CB radio as means of communications with drivers and other team members.
- Insure all personnel receive the highest level of training, both coursework and OJT.
- Instruct and direct planes while en route from one location to the next location.
- Facilitate the safe departure and arrival of over 250K ops/year at the DoD's busiest airbase.
- License by the state of California, DMV facilitate 400-minute courses on traffic safety and regulations.
Air traffic controller skills and personality traits
We calculated that 21% of Air Traffic Controllers are proficient in Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Control, and NAS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Math skills, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Air Traffic Controllers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Federal Aviation Administration, 21%
Provided safe, orderly and expeditious flow of vehicular, tactical military/civilian aircraft, utilizing Federal Aviation Administration policies/guidelines.
- Air Traffic Control, 20%
Provided non-radar air traffic control services for military and civilian aircraft and execute and coordinate search and rescue/emergency actions when necessary.
- NAS, 18%
Operated Flight Data System directly connected to the NAS and coordinates with TRACON along with the ARTCC.
- Maximize Safety, 3%
Direct ground traffic including taxiing aircraft, maintenance vehicles, and airport workers to minimize delays and maximize safety.
- CTO, 3%
Achieved dual rating to work within two control facilities, including the UAAF FAA CTO Tower.
- Emergency Situations, 3%
Ensured the safety of military aircraft operating in an area capable of producing an infinite variety of possible emergency situations.
"federal aviation administration," "air traffic control," and "nas" are among the most common skills that air traffic controllers use at work. You can find even more air traffic controller responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for an air traffic controller to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what air traffic controllers do because "air traffic controllers must be able to give clear, concise instructions, listen carefully to pilots’ requests, and respond by speaking clearly in english." Additionally, an air traffic controller resume shows how air traffic controllers use communication skills: "controlled arriving and departing aircraft operating under ifr, svfr, and vfr conditions using two-way radio communications. "
Math skills. Another essential skill to perform air traffic controller duties is math skills. Air traffic controllers responsibilities require that "controllers must be able to do arithmetic accurately and quickly." Air traffic controllers also use math skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "issued special air traffic control instructions, kept records and statistics and processed incoming and outgoing flight data information. "
Organizational skills. air traffic controllers are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to air traffic controller responsibilities, because "controllers must be able to coordinate the actions of multiple flights and to prioritize tasks, because they may be required to guide several pilots at the same time." An air traffic controller resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "supervised and managed air traffic control facilities in accordance with organizational policies and procedures. "
Problem-solving skills. air traffic controller responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "controllers must be able to understand complex situations, review changing circumstances, and provide pilots with appropriate alternatives." This resume example shows what air traffic controllers do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "resolved ifr traffic conflicts with adjacent vfr airfields. "
The three companies that hire the most air traffic controllers are:
- Serco23 air traffic controllers jobs
- Us Army Reserves22 air traffic controllers jobs
- Serco19 air traffic controllers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable air traffic controller resume templates
Build a professional air traffic controller resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your air traffic controller resume.
Compare different air traffic controllers
Air traffic controller vs. Flight service specialist
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, air traffic controller responsibilities require skills like "maximize safety," "cto," "on-the-job training," and "expeditious flow." Meanwhile a typical flight service specialist has skills in areas such as "local agencies," "bash," "foreign governments," and "civil aviation organization." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that flight service specialists earn slightly differ from air traffic controllers. In particular, flight service specialists are 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an air traffic controller. Additionally, they're 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Air traffic controller vs. Flight communications officer
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, air traffic controller responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "federal aviation administration," "air traffic control," "nas," and "maximize safety." Meanwhile, a flight communications officer has duties that require skills in areas such as "logistics," "air transportation," "flight schedules," and "combat." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Flight communications officers tend to reach higher levels of education than air traffic controllers. In fact, they're 7.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Air traffic controller vs. Flight control specialist
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, air traffic controllers are more likely to have skills like "federal aviation administration," "air traffic control," "nas," and "maximize safety." But a flight control specialist is more likely to have skills like "test equipment," "flight control systems," "troubleshoot," and "faa."
When it comes to education, flight control specialists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to air traffic controllers. In fact, they're 1.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Air traffic controller vs. Aircraft dispatcher
Even though a few skill sets overlap between air traffic controllers and aircraft dispatchers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an air traffic controller might have more use for skills like "nas," "maximize safety," "cto," and "emergency situations." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of aircraft dispatchers require skills like "maintenance control," "aircraft maintenance," "flight planning system," and "federal air. "
The average resume of aircraft dispatchers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to air traffic controllers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.Types of air traffic controller
Updated January 8, 2025
