Air Traffic Controllers
On the Job
Air Traffic Controllers control air traffic on and near airports. The authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations. They also work to make sure flights are safe.
Physical Demands 
This career requires good eyesight.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
- Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
- Monitor vehicle movement or location.
- Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
- Meet with coworkers to communicate work orders or plans.
- Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
- Train transportation or material moving personnel.
- Adjust routes or speeds as necessary.
- Plan flight operations.
- Review documents or materials for compliance with policies or regulations.
Typical Working Conditions
- Frequent decision-making.
- Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Working with a group or team.
- Frequent contact with others.
- Sitting.
- Being in situations in which conflicts arise.
- Responsibility for outcomes and results.
- Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
