Five things you need to know before considering a career in air traffic control

October 20 is International Day of the Air Traffic Controller. The commemorative date was created to celebrate the anniversary of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA), which was founded on the same date in 1961.

Air traffic controllers are the quiet heroes who guide pilots to safety. To mark the occasion, AeroTime would like to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the people on the ground (and in the towers) who help make air travel as safe as possible.

Ranked number 10 on a 2022 list of “The 30 Most Stressful Jobs” compiled by online career resource Career Diet, it is far from an easy role.

So, here are some things that you should probably know if you’re considering a career in air traffic control.

There’s more than one type of air traffic controller
There are three types of air traffic controllers, each involved in different parts of a flight.

While different countries have varying yet similar terms for the job, overall air traffic controllers typically fall into three general roles responsible for different stages of a flight.

Tower controllers

They work inside the tall, glass-covered towers that we see in airports, officially called airport traffic control towers. They manage aircraft movements in and near an aerodrome. Aerodrome refers to any location that can carry out any flight operations regardless of the type of aircraft.

Approach and departure controllers

These controllers work in the radar room, managing the flow of aircraft as they arrive and depart from airports.

En route controllers

These controllers work at Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) and use surveillance technology to manage aircraft movements in upper airspace, including continental and oceanic routes.