Job Series 2152

|| Nature of the Work || Qualifications || How the FAA Hires || Frequently Asked Questions ||

NATURE OF THE WORK
An air traffic control specialist (ATCS) is often described as one who provides for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.  It is their function to direct air traffic so it flows smoothly, efficiently and above all, safely  both on the ground and in the air.  At FAA, controller's work is divided into three specializations:

• Terminal (Tower) Controller
  Terminal controllers control air traffic at airports and give pilots taxiing and takeoff instructions, air traffic clearances, and advice based on their own observations and information from the National Weather Service, air route traffic control centers (ARTCCs), flight service stations, pilots, and other sources. They provide separation between landing and departing aircraft. They transfer control of aircraft to the ARTCC controller when the aircraft leaves their airspace, and they receive control of aircraft coming into their airspace from controllers at adjacent facilities. Air traffic controllers must be familiar with the aircraft identification and positions of the aircraft under their control, aircraft types and speeds, and the location of navigational aids and landmarks in the area.

• En Route Center Controller
  Air traffic control specialists at FAA air route traffic control centers (ARTCCs) give aircraft instructions, air traffic clearances, and advice regarding flight conditions while en route between airports. They provide separation between aircraft flying along the Federal airways or operating into or out of airports not served by a terminal facility. Center controllers use radar, or in some cases, manual procedures to track the progress of all instrument flights within the center's airspace. Where radar coverage is available and their workload permits, en route controllers also provide radar service to pilots who are not on instrument flight plans, alerting them to potential traffic conflicts. Controllers transfer control of aircraft to controllers in adjacent centers, or approach control, or terminal, when the aircraft enters that facility's airspace.

• Flight Service Station Controller
  Air traffic control specialists at FAA automated flight service stations (AFSS) provide preflight, in-flight and emergency assistance to all pilots on request. They work with some pilots face-to-face at their facilities and also communicate with pilots by phone and radio. They provide information about weather conditions for specific flights, receive and forward pilots' flight plans, relay air traffic control instructions, assist pilots in emergency situations, provide airport advisory service, and initiate searches for missing or overdue aircraft.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS
To be considered for a position, as Air Traffic Control Specialist, one must meet the qualification requirements which include maximum entry age requirements.

HOW THE FAA HIRES
Currently the FAA is only hiring graduates of FAA approved post secondary educational programs, current or former Federal employees with prior air traffic control specialist experience, or retired military air traffic controllers for positions in the En Route Center or Terminal Options.

TESTING
In general, applicants must achieve a qualifying score on the authorized FAA pre-employment test. The pre-employment test is currently ONLY offered to students in the Student Intern Program, Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program, and Minneapolis Community & Technical College, Air Traffic Control Training Program (MCTC ATCTP) [formerly known as the Mid-America Resource Consortium - MARC]. It is NOT anticipated that this test will be open to the general public for several years.

For information regarding the FAA Academy, look under ATC Options at the FAA Academy website.