Career: Air Traffic Controller

Career: Air Traffic Controller

Have you seen the movies with the air traffic controller talking the pilots down safely? Or where they guide the entire airport? Ground movements and in the air?

It looks fascinating, but how to get there?

I looked at the Air Traffic & Navigation Services website (www.atns.com). They do all the training in South Africa and it is really impressive.

They do more than the training. They are actively involved in advisory roles, planning and much more.

Let us just look at what they say themselves:

“Welcome to Air Traffic and Navigation Services SOC Limited, the home of expert Air Traffic Control and Management solutions for South Africa as well as 10% of the world’s airspace”

About the training:

“The ATNS Aviation Training Academy (ATA) is a unique organisation in terms of the training on offer. Not only do we provide Air Traffic Services and Engineering Training to our staff members, but also provide a wide range of aviation-related and safety-related courses throughout the Continent and into the Middle East.

As an International Air Transport Association (IATA) regional training provider, the ATNS ATA was awarded IATA’s Worldwide Top Regional Training Partner for several years running.

But let us just focus on the training side.

There is sort of the Air Traffic 101: ‘Ab Initio (Core Content) (ICAO 051). The aim is:” To develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to enable the students to provide a support service to AT/AIM in the collection, processing, production and distribution of Aeronautical Information […]”. 19 weeks.

From here one can specialize.

I think this one is the ground controller: ‘Aerodrome Rating (ICAO 052)’. 11 weeks and there are a few prep courses as well.

This is the one where we get to sit and talk to the pilots (I think): ‘Approach Procedural (Non-Surveillance) Control Rating ( ICAO 053). 10 weeks.

Here is the crowning glory: ‘Approach Radar (Surveillance) Control Rating (Icao 054 And 055)’. The aim is: “To develop the knowledge, skills and attitude of the learners to enable them to commence OJT, as an Area procedural and radar controller and successfully complete the required validation”. 16 weeks!

OJT = On The job training. They are not going to let us lose in the control tower with the radar going.

If Air Traffic Controller is you, set aside nearly a full year!