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Air Traffic Controller
According to research, a career in Air Traffic Control (ATC) is one of the most stressful jobs in the world.
Do you have the ability to work and stay calm under extreme stress? Do you have a love for flying or would love to be involved in the trafficking Air transport? Then consider working as an Air Traffic Controller.
Air traffic controllers maintain the safe orderly, expeditious and efficient flow of air traffic. They monitor the movement of aircraft along major air routes and around airports by giving pilots instructions and advice as to height, speed and course.
The majority of controllers work at control centres as area controllers responsible for keeping aircraft flying the airways. Others work as approach controllers dealing with aircraft movement into and out of the airport, or aerodrome controllers guiding aircraft through landing and to the terminal.
Tasks typically involve:
- keeping radio and/or radar contact with aircraft;
- directing the movement of aircraft en route or at an airport;
- instructing aircraft to climb or descend and allocating final cruising level;
- providing information to aircraft about weather conditions;
- making sure that minimum distances are maintained between planes;
- handling unexpected events, emergencies and unscheduled traffic.
Approach controllers are based at a control centre or an airport tower. They guide and sequence aircraft into the most efficient order for landing. This includes dealing with instrument landing systems that allow some planes to make automatic landings and making sure that planes are placed in holding patterns when airports are busy.
Aerodrome controllers take over to guide the aircraft through landing and to its parking stand at the terminal. Their roles may be further sub-divided into air control and ground control at very busy airports. Their activities include: controlling movements onto and off runways; handling the ground movement of planes around the terminals.
To become a civilian ATC in South Africa, training is provided by Air Traffic and navigation Services (ATNS) through the Aviation training Academy. The course takes 4-6 years before you are fully qualified.
Once qualified you will begin your career as an ATC Assistant, progress to Aerodrome Cotnrol and finally to Procedural and/or Radar Control.
To work as an ATC in South African you are required to be a South African citizen and need to be between 18 and 25 to start the course.
Useful Information
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Career Snapshot Air Traffic Controller |
In Demand
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Qualification Required |
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Work Outdoors |
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Maths Required |
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Science Required |
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This is a general guide - it is important to check admission requirements with the various training institutions first because entry requirements may vary.
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