Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 43

ADVANCED PILOT CAREER SPOTLIGHT

BY JULIE SUMMERS WALKER

EAGLE EYES

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ARE VITAL
TO THE NATIONAL AIRSPACE

TOP: MIKE FIZER, INSET: CHRIS ROSE

IF YOU'VE EVER WONDERED WHETHER THOSE " TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER/

son to work " days are worth it, meet Kathryn (not her real name), who
went with her dad to the airport and asked to see the tower.
" That sealed my plans, " she says. " I traveled a lot, so I always felt
at home at airports and on airplanes. So when I thought about what I
wanted to do after high school, my mind went to aviation. " After seeing
the energy and excitement in the air traffic control tower, she found a
college program that met her needs. Today she is a full-time air traffic
controller in a busy East Coast facility.
" Every day is the same except when it's not. You get used to the same
flights and their departure and destinations, the ebbs and flows, but throw
in one different variable, and the whole picture changes, " she says. " A few
more GA aircraft, a weather system, turbulence, an emergency, holiday
traffic, or military flyovers and suddenly it's different and dynamic. "
Saying that the training process was difficult, she adds: " Patience is a
virtue. Training, especially in the center, is long. Your flexibility and dedication can make a huge difference in how quickly you get through it. "
Job responsibilities of an air traffic controller include managing the
flow of aircraft into and out of an airport's airspace, guiding pilots in all
weather conditions, directing aircraft efficiently to minimize delays at
airports, and ensuring the safety of all aircraft operations. Maximum
concentration is required.
An unusual aspect of the job most people wouldn't expect is voice
command: " The key is sounding like you know what you're doing even
when you don't. We say during training that there's no possible way for
trainers to train you for every possible scenario. But we're trained to draw
on what we do know and what questions to ask in order to deal with a new,
unfamiliar scenario or situation. " FT

QUALIFICATIONS
Age 30 or under; must pass medical and
security clearances; must pass an FAA
preemployment test; must speak English
clearly; have three years work experience or
a bachelor's degree; be willing to relocate.
BENEFITS
If you have a serious nature and desire a
career that provides a vital public service,
this is for you.
DRAWBACKS
If a demanding work environment, long
hours, night and weekend duty, and high
stress isn't for you, this is not a career for
you. There is a mandatory retirement age
of 56.
PAY
FAA controllers can expect $127,000
annually; the salary goes up with experience-and a more challenging facility.

julie.walker@aopa.org
AOPA.ORG/FT

43



http://www.AOPA.ORG/FT

Flight Training - January/February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - January/February 2021

Contents
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - Intro
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - Cover1
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - Cover2
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - Contents
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 2
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 3
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 4
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 5
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 6
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 7
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 8
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 9
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 10
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 11
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 12
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 13
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 14
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 15
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 16
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 17
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 18
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 19
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 20
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 21
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 22
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 23
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 24
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 25
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 26
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 27
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 28
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - 29
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Flight Training - January/February 2021 - Cover3
Flight Training - January/February 2021 - Cover4
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