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Controller Profiles: Steve Kelley
What made you decide to become an air traffic controller? "I took a trip over spring break while in college and my flight connected in Chicago. While we were taxiing, I remember looking at the air traffic control tower and thinking, 'that must be a cool job.'" How did you become an air traffic controller? "About four months after that vacation, my college funds ran out. I went to an Air Force recruiter and said, 'I'll join today if you can get me into air traffic control.'" Describe a typical day. "One of the things I love about this job is there really isn't a typical day. Every day is different, including the hours that you work. Weather, wind, equipment outages and many other factors vary each day - giving controllers eight hours of ever-changing events." What's the best part of your job? "The satisfaction received from orchestrating hundreds of aircraft through an incredibly small chunk of airspace without even breaking a sweat. This job also pays well." What's the worst part of your job? "When you are stuck in a situation where you know you aren't going to be able to help the pilot home safely because extenuating circumstances such as low fuel in severe weather." What's unique about the facility where you work? "The unique combination of personalities of people I work with." Why do you prefer working in your type of facility (tower, TRACON or center)? "I consider myself very fortunate because I work in a combined facility where I'm able to enjoy working in both the tower and the TRACON." What are three important characteristics that you believe a controller needs? 1. "Quick decision maker" 2. "Combination of a controllable ego and aggression" 3. "Ability to think at least 30-seconds ahead of all of your air traffic while still talking in the present" What's the most challenging situation you've ever had to handle? "I was talking with a pilot who was flying in severe weather and was nearly out of fuel. Luckily, I was familiar with the area he was flying over. I managed to guide him below the clouds and out of the icing so he could see the ground. Then I told him to look for an old, seldom-used country road. He saw it, and managed to land on fumes and go home that night." Where do you go from here? Where do you see yourself in the future? "My son wants to be a controller, and I hope to train him to be my replacement and a staunch union activist." Main Menu |
