Where and How Does a Student Become Aircraft Traffic Controller?

My nephew has asked me to research his interest in becoming an aircraft controller. I have never heard of this field being a major in colleges or universities, so I would imagine classes would be connected to major airports. If you are an aircraft controller or you know someone who is, could you offer any advice on how to get into the field.





I do know that controllers have to have sharp memories, make flash decisions, be cool under pressure and work with other busy controllers and high tech equipment.





How much do beginning controllers make per year, how long is the training, is it a hard profession to get hired into, and is there any open positions when training is completed?





Thanks for any and all advice about the profession of aircraft traffic controllersWhere and How Does a Student Become Aircraft Traffic Controller?
There are traffic management courses for civil engineers at many universities that may provide courses but the two places I can think of off hand where I know there are specific training programs are universities like Embry Riddle Aeronautics and the US Air Force Academy.





http://www.erau.edu/db/degrees/b-airtraf鈥?/a>





I suggest that you Google Air Traffic Control schools and Air Traffic Management schools





In answer to the other parts of your question, yes there are many openings in this profession, in fact there is something of an anticipated shortage as a significant percentage of the current controllers are about to come up for retirement over the next few years.





I believe the job is federal pay scale so the pay grade is G-level and I do not know off hand what level it is to start but it is mid level as I remember and with full government benefits. Though according to the career info on Wiki the pay scale was just reduced in 2006 to the same as it was 25 years ago and is not as attractive as it was.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_traffic鈥?/a>





It is a demanding and important profession but not too hard for a committed person to get into and your son is eligible to be hired directly upon graduating from an accredited program.





That Wiki article claims there are 14 accredited programs around the nation.Where and How Does a Student Become Aircraft Traffic Controller?
The University of North Dakota for one has an excellent ATC training major... with tons of great equiptment... They have direct ties to the FAA and given the current controller shortage, if you graduate, you have a job... basically...
Tell him to wait a few years. They are starting to hire Civi's as controllers. Go work for a local charter company and gain experience.
http://www.natca.org/





Go to this site first. It is the only site where you will get the truth about Air Traffic Control. Currently I would not reccomend being an ATC. The FAA is treating controllers very harshly right now.
if you live in Canada contact Nav Canada for information about becoming an ATC.





The job is really not like it is in the movies and most of the high tech stuff the average ATC uses is a computer screen the engeneering staff are the ones who actually work with the high tech equipment. The job is highly regimented with procedures HOWEVER when all heck breaks loose that is when the level headedness comes in.
I am a developmental controller who was hired one year ago today.





Your nephew can join the military and hope he can get into ATC at a military base or he can go a CTI school. Only some schools have approved circulum to teach ATC. After that he has to pass the AT-SAT which measures his appitudes for the job (he must pass with a 70% for qualified and 85% for well qualified.) Once he has completed the test, his school must recommend him to the FAA. Your nephew is placed in a list and the FAA then contacts him with paperwork for his background check, 2nd class physical, and psycologcial exam. Once he has been excepted into the FAA, he will continue his education at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. Depending on which facility he will go to, he will spend 1 1/2 or 3 months before he will be sent out to his facility, provided that he passes the academy.





A lot of controllers are retiring right now due to reaching minimum retirement age. A lot of people are being offered employment, but are turning the offers down. A couple of pointers, the FAA is only paying $8.82 an hour, including locality pay, for all students at the academy. This is about $1000 per month after taxes for any single person. Not very much considering that apartments approved by the FAA charge $30 a day. New controllers are considered ';temporary employees'; and so do not receive any per deim pay. Upon completion, he will get payed $31,700, not including locality pay (add an average 12-15%.) All ATCS are no longer on the GS scales.





FAA pay is a very sore subject to me right now, as you no doubt have noticed. Especially considering that the Department of Defense pays their controllers upwards of $60,000 for new controllers. Also some Contract towers pay more as well. Note: contract towers are rated at level 1 - 4 in terms of traffic volume. The FAA operates facilities of 4 - 12.