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General Description

An air traffic controller is responsible for managing the safe and orderly flow of aircraft into, out of and between airports both nationally and internationally. This is done by remaining in radio communication with pilots to keep aircraft separated in controlled, monitored airspaces, as well as ensuring that aircraft abide by their pre-arranged routes and altitudes.

In the case of an emergency, it is your responsibility as an air traffic controller to provide information and assistance to pilots and emergency services.

There are three areas of air traffic controlling: enroute controller, terminal area controller, and tower controller. It is a job of high responsibility, and involves working in a busy environment and making quick and accurate decisions.

You use radar to monitor and control aircraft movements, and so must have an aptitude for technology and organisation.

What you do every day

As an air traffic controller, your daily tasks will largely depend on which area you work in. Enroute control is the management and control of aircraft while enroute from its departure aerodrome to its arrival aerodrome. You control safe air traffic management over Australia and on oceanic routes. Enroute is the sector of an aircraft’s flight plan that is outside the responsibility of the Terminal Area Controller, and is when the aircraft is at cruise level. All aircraft operating within controlled airspace require specific approval and authorisation.

You are responsible for providing that approval, and ensuring that separation standards are maintained between aircraft operating within your designated airspace. The types of separation you apply in order to maintain separation are vertical, lateral and longitudinal.  

As a terminal area controller, also known as an approach controller, you manage the airspace immediately surrounding the airport. Your area of responsibility usually extends out to approximately 40 nautical miles from capital city airports and makes for a busy job given the concentration of aircraft in a relatively small space.

You not only handle the traffic arriving and departing from major airports, but also helicopter and light aircraft movements within the vicinity of these airports. In your daily work, you make quick and accurate judgements, respond to changing circumstances, and take into account the requirements of not just the pilots but the community as a whole.

As a tower controller, you are responsible for all aircraft and vehicle movements on the taxiways and runways, and in the immediate surrounding airspace. You are required to prevent collisions between aircraft in the air by asking pilots to sight each other, and by keeping them at separate levels or different routes. You also keep aircraft apart on the ground by issuing specific taxi instructions from the time they leave the terminal, and not allowing more than one aircraft on the runway at any given time.

A tower controller also provides pilots with weather information and general information about the aerodrome. In an emergency you also advise the search and rescue service which may involve pushing the crash alarm to alert the airport fire-fighters, or notifying the local police if necessary. The types of aircraft under your responsibility include small jets, military aircraft, commuter turbo-props, light training aircraft, helicopters, powered gliders, hot air balloons and ultra-light planes.

Personality that best fits this career

The nature of the job demands that air traffic controllers are able to make quick and accurate decisions based on information regarding an aircraft’s position. You must be confident and able to work with modern computer-based equipment; self-motivated and independent, yet work within a team environment, and be dedicated, professional, conscientious, confident and able to accept high levels of personal responsibility. 

You will need to posses a strong understanding and clear application of the English language. A competent air traffic controller is one who has a high level of “situational awareness”. This means that you can glean information from many concurrent sources, evaluate alternatives, establish priorities, estimate probable outcomes of alternative courses of action, and work on whatever has the highest momentary urgency without losing control over routine traffic operations. You must also be prepared to work shifts on any day of the year.

Best thing about this career

You will have the opportunity to develop personally and professionally in a highly satisfying and unique career. The work is challenging and interesting, and involves high levels of responsibility. It is a high-tech environment, which involves continually developing new skills in the latest technology. You work for one of the world’s leading providers of air traffic control and are rewarded for your efforts through generous conditions of employment.

Worst thing about this career

You have a high level of responsibility with constant stress and pressure to perform quickly and accurately every time. There will not be days where you can go into work feeling ‘off’ or vague. You will always need to be alert and aware. The responsibility of controlling aircraft can be daunting, as any failure to separate aircraft would automatically be on your shoulders. Although the pay is great, you are required to work any day of the year which cuts into family time or weekends.