Air Traffic Controller

An Air Traffic Controller/ Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO) is a technical specialist who manages air traffic on and within the vicinity of an airport according to established procedures & policies to prevent collisions and minimize delays arising from traffic congestion.

Who are ATCOs?

ATCOs ensure the safety of aviation passengers every day and billions of people per year. They use their skills and judgment to safely direct thousands of flights daily to their destinations.

You will be responsible for the safe, orderly, and expeditious movement of air traffic through the nation's airspace. As an ATCO you will provide service to all aircraft arriving, departing or operating in the vicinity of an airport.

What about Air Traffic Management in India?

ATM (Air Traffic Management) in India is controlled by the Airports Authority of India. Air Traffic Management is controlled by AAI but of course, unlike railways, the aircrafts that we see are not owned by it. They are owned by the individual carriers like Air India, Vistara, Akasa, Indigo etc. However, all ATM jobs are listed on the government portal and you will have to attempt the ATC written exam if you want to get recruited as a Junior Executive or Manager.

Jobs in India are fewer compared to other first nations. This is primarily because the ATM infrastructure in the country is not as upgraded yet in terms of automation systems & technology for example, complete shifting from ground-based navigation to satellite-based navigation.

What about jobs and exams?

Information regarding recruitment to all related posts is regularly updated on the official website of AAI (Airports Authority of India). To become an Air Traffic Controller in India, you must apply to a job posting, take the Civil ATC Test if you are shortlisted, which is administered by the Civil Aviation Authority. The exam typically consists of 4 papers.

To make an ATCO you must have an aptitude for physics & mathematics and your base in both the subjects should be adequately strong.

It’s a simple process.

• Regularly visit the AAI Official Website.
• Apply for an ATC job posting.
• Appear for the subsequent exam.
• Enjoy Ab Initio Training programme!
• Get posted at an airport.
• Control the live traffic there!

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

• Operating various types of equipment such as: radios, telephones, interphones, computer systems, radar, recording systems, weather equipment, light guns, airport/runway lighting systems, and backup equipment
• Issuing landing/takeoff instructions.
• Encodes, decodes, and posts notices to airmen & ground staff in an airport.
• Answering radio calls from arriving and departing aircraft.
• Issuing air traffic clearances.
• Alerting airport emergency crews and other designated personnel when aircraft are having flight difficulties.
• Issuing information such as which runway to use, wind velocity and direction, visibility, taxiing instructions, and pertinent data on other aircraft operating in vicinity.
• Providing advice based on personal observations and information from the National Weather Service, IFR control facilities, flight service stations, pilots, and other sources.
  • IFR control facilities are terminals that provides air traffic control services to aircraft operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) to and from one or more adjacent airports. This is typically provided to aircrafts operating on flight plans within a controlled airspace and principally during the en route phase of flight.
• Taking and disseminating weather observations.
• Transferring control to receiving facilities when aircraft leave their airspace and receiving control of aircraft coming into their airspace.
• Coordinating with and issuing instructions to airport vehicles and personnel.
• Maintaining and disseminating records of daily operations

• You should have interests for Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or conceptual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve the use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision making and problem-solving.
• You should have interests for Conventional Occupations. Conventional occupations involve repetitive and routine tasks as well as fixed processes or procedures for getting things done. These occupations involve working more with data, systems, and procedures and less with ideas or creativity.   

Knowledge

• You should have knowledge of Computers - computer hardware and software, computer programming, computer networks, computer and mobile applications.
• You should have knowledge of Data and Information Security - various software, systems and processes to ensure security of data and systems in computer networks as well as in individual computers and systems. This includes developing and programming software and systems to protect data and ensure security.
• You should have knowledge of English Language – about English grammar, words, spelling, sentence construction, using English to communicate with others, reading in English, etc.

Skills

• You should have Systems Analysis Skills - Skills in determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, or the environment will affect outcomes.
• You should have Systems Evaluation Skills - Skills in identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• You should have Active Learning Skills - Focused and continuous learning from various sources of information, observation and otherwise for application in getting work done.

• You should have Technical Skills - using various technologies and technical methods to get things done or solve problems.
• You should have Critical thinking Skills –analysis of complex situations, using logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.

• You should have Coordination Skills - working together with other people to get things done.
• You should have Judgment and Decision Making Skills - considering pros and cons of various decision alternatives; considering costs and benefits; taking appropriate and suitable decisions.
• You should have Quality Control Analysis Skills - conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Ability

• You should have Problem Solving Ability - analysis and understanding of problems, evaluating various options to solve the problems and using the best option to solve the problems.
• You should have Inductive Reasoning Ability - The ability to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. For example, analysing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions.
• You should have Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or innovative ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• You should have Verbal Reasoning Ability - The ability to think and reason with words; the ability to reason out ideas expressed in words.
• You should have Deductive Reasoning Ability - apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic.
• You should have Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a long period of time without being distracted.
• You should have Speed of Closure - The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Personality

• You are always or mostly careful about your actions and behavior.
• You are always or mostly organized in your day-to-day life and activities.
• You are always practical or in most situations.
• You can always act independently or could do so in most situations.