What Is an Air Traffic Controller?

This nation's air traffic controllers ensure the safety of about two million aviation passengers per day - or almost one billion people per year. Air traffic controllers use their skills and judgment to safely direct more than 60 million aircraft annually to their destinations.

The U.S. air traffic controller workforce consists of approximately 14,000 dedicated and well-trained men and women. Most people who fly are probably aware of the controllers working in airport control towers, but many of these professionals work in en route control centers and terminal radar approaches that few people even see or know about. These are all stressful, high energy environments where every controller knows there is no margin for error.

The air traffic controller work force breaks down as follows:

TOWER CONTROLLERS...

...work in the glassed-in towers you see at airports. They manage traffic from the airport to a radius of 3 to 30 miles out. They give pilots taxiing and take off instructions, air traffic clearance, and advice based on their own observations and experience. They provide separation between landing and departing aircraft, transfer control of aircraft to the en route center controllers when the aircraft leave their airspace, and receive control of aircraft on flights coming into their airspace.

What's life in an air traffic control tower really like?  Meet Washington National Airport Tower Controller Ann Harris and find out.

TERMINAL RADAR APPROACH CONTROLLERS...

...work in radar rooms, usually in airport towers. They, like tower controllers, are responsible for the safe separation and movement of aircraft departing, landing, and maneuvering in the airport environment. They normally control traffic below 17,000 feet.

Meet Rich Ulmes, a controller that spends half his time in the tower and the other half working in the radar room.

EN ROUTE CENTER CONTROLLERS...

...work in 24 centers across the country, in a location away from the airport. You will never see them during the course of your flight, but they will normally direct your aircraft for the bulk of your ride. They usually control traffic at or above 17,000 feet. These controllers give aircraft instructions, air traffic clearances, and advice regarding flight conditions during the en route portions of flights. Center controllers use radar or manual procedures to keep track of the thousands of planes in the sky at any one time. The typical center has responsibility for more than 100,000 square miles of airspace generally extending over a number of states.

Meet Controller Greg Wyse who works traffic at Chicago En Route Air Traffic Controller Center.

Air traffic controllers are in high demand. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association estimates half of the nation's controllers will retire by 2010. To combat this huge gap, the union is making every effort possible to ensure adequate staffing in the face of a growing crisis. Please click here to learn more about this critical issue. 

NATCA's Tower, Center, and RADAR Approach Controllers are proud to serve you every time you fly!