whats the day to day like for an air traffic controller?
Asked by ms.jackson...
I want to be an air traffic controller, but i also really like working with people... so i'm wondering does it get lonely in the tower, is that why the job is so stressful? its either that or financial services because those are the two fields that interest me... oh i'm 20 and in college... but I need help deciding my actual career path and know whether ATC is a good way to go, I also want to have a family and I want to know how being an air traffic controller works with family life!

Best Answer:
An air traffic controller spends long hours watching small blips on a screen, taking responsibility for the lives of thousands of airline passengers hour by hour. S/He gives directions for take-off and landing, needs to be an exceptional communicator and listener, and able to make wise split-second decisions. This career pays well, but also adversely affects one's health due to the high stress inherent to this position. Financial services is less stressful, but can be quite lucrative. Since you are undecided, I recommend you make an appointment to meet with a career counselor in Student Services. Their services are free to ongoing and prospective students, and they are quite helpful. This is such an important decision, that you are wise to be looking at your options at this time in your life. Best wishes.
Retired career counselor
Answered by Rhonda

it's busy, very busy.
Answered by gjkishere

The pay is excellent. You can expect to make around $150,000 starting. If you want to do overtime, there is plenty more money to be made. You would be working with a few other people, so I don't think it would be that lonely. It is QUITE stressful, since each little blip on the radar represents hundreds of lives that you are responsible for. Only look into this career if you feel alright with that responsibility. Contrary to what the last person said, it isn't that busy ALL the time. It's basically two hours of intense work, followed by two hours of break, followed two hours of intense work, followed by a two hour break. Hope that helps. EDIT - On the family side, every air traffic controller I know has been divorced at least once. I can't explain why, and I don't know if this has anything to do with said career path. EDIT 2 - The pay I mentioned was for Canadian air traffic controllers. I didn't think it would be that different in the states, since the exchange is practically nil right now, but I could be wrong.
Answered by Endless_Nameless

It's a respectable career that works very well with family life, no travelling involved and you're home everyday. The pay all depends on where you're working, a controller in LA or NY will get paid considerable more(+$100,000) than a controller in Clinton, Oklahoma. The job gets stressful because many lives can be in your hands. A mistake could mean the end of your career or even the deaths of many lives. If you love working with people, thats all you do as a controller... constantly talk to pilots on the radios. Work in a high traffic area, and you'll have no time to get "lonely." To become a controller, all you have to do is pass the ATC test and apply for any open position. Right now, this field is in desperate need of new controllers.
Answered by kali

I'm sure it's like any other job . it's has it's up and downs. But after you learn the in's and out's you should be right on schedule and the gates of success will guard your security and provided you with a 1st class living .
Answered by Frank L

OK I first wanted to address the folks saying how much controllers make. I have no idea where those figures came from, but mine are coming directly from the latest contract in 2006 which state a controller once out of the academy will make $31,700 to start. Depending on how busy your facility is you'll make more as you progress through your training (clearance delivery, ground, local, or in TRACONS or ARTCC's is goes up after you've checked out on so many sectors). The absolute top limit for a veteran controller at the absolute most busy facilities is $104,500. Pay is augmented by locality pay, over time and night differential, but the idea that most controllers are making 6 figures is not accurate. Does it get lonely in the tower? Nope. The majority of a controllers job is communication. Even in the slowest towers on the most dead times there is always another controller there with you (supposed to be anyway) to chat with if there aren't any aircraft in your airspace. At more busy airports there might be more than 10 controllers in the tower cab at any one given time. You are talking to planes all day. You are talking to other controllers all day, coordinating what you are going to do with them. go to www.atcmonitor.com. Listen to the controllers. What you can hear is one controller talking to other airplanes in Atlanta, what you can't hear is that controller on the phone coordinating with adjacent sectors and ATL TRACON. It isn't like the tower is staffed by one person who just sits there all day doing nothing until two blips get too close to eachother on radar. The job is stressful (excluding emergencies) because sometimes you have so much to do in such a small amount of time, much of which is speaking to aircraft, that you really have to be able think and speak quickly and prioritize your actions. It is not however as stressful as it gets made out to be. Like everything in aviation, it is alot of the routine accented with short periods of intense stress. If you wan't to do ATC I'd strongly suggest transfering to and majoring in it at a CTI school since you're already in school. That way, the FAA will hire you once you've graduated and you'll go to the FAA academy already knowing 99% of what you need to know. Also having graduated CTI, having the knowledge that the FAA WILL hire you is better than wondering if they'll select you off the street and then having the added stress of going to the academy and trying to learn in 6 or 7 weeks what all the CTI grads in your class already know. Being a controller will have some effect on your family life. You don't work a normal 9-5 schedule. Most controllers work 2 mornings, 2 afternoons and one night in a week. On the flip side to that you'll be retired by 55, which, with due dilligance in your financial matters could mean you have a full 7 years more of retirement than 99% of the workforce and therefore a full 7 years more to spend with your family if you so choose. ATC is a great way to go right now despite grumblings about the new contract. The FAA is behind on hiring controllers to replace the vast majority of controllers who were hired in 1981 who are now up for retirement. 2009 is projected to be the year when the hiring picks up into full swing. At current, more controllers are retiring than the FAA has the ability to hire and train.
Answered by Kevin