Air Traffic Controllers are required to have three years of general experience, four years of college, or a combination of experience and education. The FAA has established a maximum age of 30 at the time of appointment for tower and center candidates. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen.
Why do you have to be under 30 to be an air traffic controller?
To be able to retire from a government job (in the US), you need at least 25 years of service in a federal job. So the age 31 cut-off ensures you will have 25 years in so you can retire when you reach the mandatory age. Note: retirement at age 56 only applies to those directly working air traffic.
Is it hard to become an air traffic controller?
Air traffic controllers have one of the most stressful jobs out there and can often involve making life or death decisions under extreme pressure. Even though the path to becoming an air traffic controller isn’t as long or difficult as trying to become a doctor or lawyer, it is by no means easy.
What are the requirements to become an air traffic controller?
Minimum Requirements
- Be a United States citizen.
- Be age 30 or under (on the closing date of the application period)
- Pass a medical examination.
- Pass a security investigation.
- Pass the FAA air traffic pre-employment test.
- Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment.
How much does FAA academy cost?
What You Need to Know
| Training | Training is available through the FAA, the military, or a college training program approved of by the FAA |
|---|---|
| Degrees | Avionics, aircraft maintenance, air traffic control and aviation management degrees are available |
| Cost (60 Credits) | $10,000 – $35,000 |
How many days a week do air traffic controllers work?
Most have standard shifts, and they often work over 40 hours per week. However, air traffic controllers are subject to federal regulations that require them to work shifts of 10 hours or less and take a minimum of nine-hour breaks between shifts.
How many years of experience do you need to be an air traffic controller?
3 continuous years of experience as a military air traffic controller. Not exactly! One of the requirements to become an air traffic controller with the FAA is to have 1, not 3, continuous years of experience as a civilian or military air traffic controller. Guess again! 5 years of any work experience.
How old do you have to be to retire from air traffic control?
So the age 31 cut-off ensures you will have 25 years in so you can retire when you reach the mandatory age. Note: retirement at age 56 only applies to those directly working air traffic. So if you are in a supervisory or management position then you can work well past 56.
What kind of work does an air traffic controller do?
The majority of controllers work at control centres as area controllers responsible for keeping aircraft flying the airways. Others work as approach controllers dealing with aircraft movement into and out of the airport, or aerodrome controllers guiding aircraft through landing and to the terminal. What does an Air Traffic Controller do?
Are there any free flights for air traffic controllers?
However, controllers can ride for free on airliners under a program known as Flight Deck Training. Before 9/11, this program was called “Familiarization Flight Training”, and is still referred to by many controllers as FAM, as in, “I’m taking a FAM to Orlando” or “I’m FAMming to Denver.”
