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How can I work up to being a Air traffic controller?

I am very interested in being an air traffic controller, but I know it is very stressfull and difficult. What jobs could I do to better prepare myself for it, or expose myself to it to see if I even want to do it?

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Randall’s Answer

First of all, the FAA only hires sporadically. FAA may hire this year and not for several years. Fortunately the FAA will be hiring ATC soon. Applications open June 24-27. See announcement at faa. Salary range is $103K-$164K with paid training. Now that being said, things you can do to acquaint yourself with ATC...

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Randall recommends the following next steps:

-Search faa.gov and National Air Traffic Controllers Association (Natca.org) websites. -Review info on atc123.com -ATC has a language of their own, this is contained in FAA order JO 7110.65Z and can be searched for via google, etc. -Learn the phonetic alphabet (more ATC language). Search for 'phonetic alphabet aviation'. -Listen to live ATC on a site like liveATC.net -Watch streaming air traffic on a site like flightaware.com for your airport and listen on liveATC.com at the same time. -Check out YouTube videos such as "from the flight deck" by the FAA -Visit your local airport tower, NATCA may be able to help with that. You can also find ATC tower info online. -Do anything aviation...visit the nearest aviation museum and talk to the docents (many are retire ATC) -Take an Intro flight at the local Fixed Base Operator (FBO)/flight school and glean info from them -Work in any capacity at a smaller nearby airport -Contact contract tower companies that often staff smaller airfields, such as SERCO, and/or look at their job openings and see what attributes they are looking for -Attend aviation ground school and learn about how airplanes fly -Attend aviation community college classes at a CC like Big Bend CC -Attend classes at a university that deals with aviation like Embry Riddle Aeronautical University or University of North Dakota Most of all...be diligent in your pursuit. The job won't come to you. You'll have to go get it.
Thank you comment icon Thanks for the advice. Samuel
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Kim’s Answer

Perhaps join the Civil Air Patrol? Hopefully somehow through them you'd be able to get a tower tour. Maybe take the ground portion of pilot training? Anything you can do to learn to understand aircraft will help you when you are trying to handle an aircraft emergency and the pilot is trying to explain what is wrong with his plane.

Part of the stress of being an AT controller is the odd hours (which can adversely affect family time or socializing with friends), the inability to take certain prescription drugs (such as for allergies), and working in the dark. True, the job is stressful. Just be aware of these other stressors.

A job you can take while working towards being a controller is police dispatcher.

Civil Air Patrol near you: https://www.anokacap.com/
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Jeffrey’s Answer

Like all things Aviation the program that controls it all is the FAA federal aviation administration. For me personally joining the USAF was the easiest and most rewarding way to receive the experience that the high intense positions like ATC ask for. It was also well paying. I was a maintainer, but I stayed in contact with tower regularly when it came to needing to tow a jet down the taxiway or doing an engine run. Behind the scenes ATC is involved with a lot. I provided a link that should show you the expectations that are set by the FAA and a potential opportunity. Talk to your local recruiters as well. You do not have to go straight to a full time active duty contract for 6 year like I did, but you can look at part time reservist positions. You will get all of the same training as a active duty member and only work once a month which is even more training. Good luck.
https://www.faa.gov/levelup
Thank you comment icon Is there a way to get into the field without joining the air force/military? Samuel
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