Profession air traffic controller

Air traffic controllers assist pilots by providing information concerning the height, speed and course. They assist pilots in order to facilitate a safe take off and landing of aircrafts. They are responsible for maintaining a secure and orderly movement of aircraft along major air routes up in the sky and around airports. They control air traffic in and within vicinity of airports according to established procedures and policies to prevent collisions and to minimise delays arising from traffic congestion.

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Personality Type

• Enterprising / Conventional

Knowledge

• Pre-flight procedures for IFR flights

  Understand pre-flight duties while preparing an IFR flight; read and comprehend flight manual.

• Aircraft flight control systems

  Know the setting, features and operation of aircraft flight control systems. Manage flight control surfaces, cockpit controls, connections, and operating mechanisms required to control the flight direction of an aircraft. Operate aircraft engine controls in order to change aircraft speed.

• Airport planning

  Know airport planning for different types of aircrafts; use that information to mobilise resources and people in order to handle the aircrafts while they are in the airport.

• Electronics

  The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.

• Electrical systems used in transportation

  Understand the functioning of electrical systems, their specifications, and application in operations and systems for the transportation of freight and people.

• Electronic communication

  Data communication performed through digital means such as computers, telephone or e-mail.

• Aviation meteorology

  Understand aviation meteorology to deal with the impact of weather on air traffic management (ATM). Understand how thorough changes in pressure and temperature values at airports can create variations in head and tail-wind components, and may impose low visibility operating conditions. Knowledge of aviation meteorology can help to reduce negative impact on the ATM system by diminishing disruption and the consequent problems of disturbed flow rates, lost capacity and induced additional costs.

• Air transport law

  Know air transport laws and regulations. Due to the nature of aviation, knowledge of air transport laws partially overlaps with knowledge of international law.

• Common aviation safety regulations

  The body of legislation and regulations that apply to the field of civil aviation at regional, national, European and International levels. Understand that regulations aimed at protecting citizens at all times in civil aviation; ensure that operators, citizens, and organisations comply with these rules.

• Air traffic control operations

  Understand the tasks performed by air traffic controllers, including Interaction and effective communication between aircraft and air traffic controllers; execution of follow-up activities, and ensuring smooth operations during flights.

• Celestial navigation

  Understand the science of celestial navigation and position fixing by using specialised measuring equipment.

Skills

• Stay alert

  Stay focused and alert at all times; react quickly in the case of unexpected events. Concentrate and do not get distracted performing a task over a long period of time.

• Operate radar equipment

  Operate radar screens and other radar equipment; ensure that aircraft fly at a safe distance from one another.

• Use different communication channels

  Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

• Handle stressful situations

  Deal with and manage highly stressful situations in the workplace by following adequate procedures, communicating in a quiet and effective manner, and remaining level-headed when taking decisions.

• Have spatial awareness

  Be aware of your position and the space around you. Understand the relationship of objects around you when there is a change of position.

• Operate airport control tower

  Operate the airport control tower, which is crucial to the safe taxiing, take-off and landing of aircraft.

• Possess visual literacy

  Interpret charts, maps, graphics, and other pictorial presentations used in place of the written word. The graphics used vary from process to process; therefore, the professional must have sufficient knowledge of the field in order to follow and use the information presented.

• Assist in the conducting of flight checks

  Assist pre-flight and in-flight checks in order to detect problems and provide solutions to them, together with the flight captain, the first pilot or the inflight engineer.

• Follow given instructions

  Follow instructions to achieve goals and meet deadlines.

• Comply with checklists

  Follow checklists and ensure compliance with all the items included in them.

• Use meteorological information

  Use and interpret meteorological information for operations dependent on climatic conditions. Use this information to provide advise on safe operations in relation to weather conditions.

• Carry out navigational calculations

  Solve mathematical problems to achieve safe navigation.

• Analyse work-related written reports

  Read and comprehend job-related reports, analyse the content of reports and apply findings to daily work operations.

• Maintain concentration for long periods

  Stay concentrated over a long period of time in order to make correct judgements and appropriate decisions.

• Give instructions to staff

  Give instructions to subordinates by employing various communication techniques. Adjust communication style to the target audience in order to convey instructions as intended.

• Assist during take off and landing

  Assist captain in take-off and landing procedures by operating communication equipment.

• Read 3D displays

  Read 3D-displays and understand the information they provide on positions, distances, and other parameters.

• Use air traffic services document

  Utilise Air Traffic Services document to prevent collisions between manoeuvring aircraft; ensure orderly flow of air traffic.

• Apply technical communication skills

  Explain technical details to non-technical customers, stakeholders, or any other interested parties in a clear and concise manner.

• Ensure public safety and security

  Implement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.

• Monitor aviation meteorology

  Monitor and interpret the information provided by weather stations to anticipate conditions that may affect airports and flights.

• Apply airport standards and regulations

  Know and apply the accepted standards and regulations for European airports. Apply knowledge to enforce airport rules, regulations, and the Airport Safety Plan.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB