ATC interviews

1. What do you do for a living?

I am an air traffic control specialist for Lao Air Traffic Management (LATM). I am also the National Air Traffic Controllers Association Facility Representative that represents the air traffic controllers and staff specialists at Pakse Tower Control in southern Laos

✍️ How would you describe what you do?

👉 Our controller handbook says that we provide for “the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.”

👉As an air traffic controller (ATC), I ensure the safe, orderly, and efficient movement of aircraft in the air and on the ground. My job is to

1. Give clearances and instructions to pilots during takeoff, landing, and while en route.

2. Prevent collisions by maintaining safe separation between aircraft.

3. Coordinate with other controllers and airport personnel.

4. Handle emergencies and unexpected situations quickly and calmly

  ✍️ What does your work entail?

  👉My work as an air traffic controller entails

• Monitoring aircraft using radar and radio communication.

• Issuing instructions for takeoff, landing, and altitude or route changes.

• Providing separation between aircraft to prevent collisions.

• Coordinating with other ATC units to ensure smooth transitions between airspace sectors.

• Managing ground traffic (vehicles and aircraft) on taxiways and runways.

• Responding to emergencies and assisting pilots in distress.

• Keeping accurate records of all communications and decisions.

✍️What’s a typical workweek like?

👉A typical workweek involves rotating shifts (day, night, and weekends), managing air traffic, communicating with pilots, and staying alert. We also attend briefings and follow strict rest rules to stay focused. 

✍️How did you get started?

I got started by passing an entrance exam, then completing ATC training at a certified aviation academy. After that, I did on-the-job training and gained experience under supervision before becoming a licensed controller. 

What do you like about what you do?

I like that my job is challenging and meaningful. Every day is different, and I enjoy the fast-paced environment, making quick decisions, and keeping people safe in the skies. 

What do you dislike?

I dislike the irregular hours and high stress, especially during emergencies or peak traffic. It can also be mentally exhausting with little room for error. 

How do you make money, or how are you compensated?

I’m compensated with a monthly salary, which includes base pay, shift allowances, overtime, and sometimes performance or hazard bonuses. Pay depends on experience, rank, and the country or organization I work for. 

How much money do air traffic controllers make?

The range of pay is quite large due to the different types and complexities of facilities and the individual’s qualifications at each facility. Pay is calculated by levels. Level 4 is a very small tower and Level 12 would be an Atlanta or O’Hare.

The pay bands go from approximately $30,000/yr to $135,000/yr before adding locality.

How much money did/do you make starting out?

Fresh out of the FAA academy, I made about $30,000/yr with raises after getting certified on different control positions.

What education, schooling, or skills are needed to do this?

After getting hired nearly a year after graduating college with my handy Bachelor’s Degree, I reported to the FAA’s academy in Oklahoma City, OK. There my classmates and I were taught the basics of air traffic control that we would apply at our facilities.

Once reporting to the facility and learning the layouts of the airspace and the airport, I started on-the-job training. This may be one of the most surprising things that I tell people. We just plug in with a trainer and start talking to airplanes. The trainer does have the power to key up their headset to keep us from giving any dangerous instructions, but we learn by doing the job.

After a year and a half of training, I reached “Full Performance Level”, meaning that I had been certified as qualified to work every position in the tower and the TRACON. The FAA has since changed the name to “Certified Professional Controller.”

What is most challenging about what you do?

Controlling requires a great deal of concentration and spatial thinking. Being able to see a conflict between two aircraft that are 30 or 40 miles apart is important in our line of work. Not all people have this foresight; and therefore, not all people can do this job.

A different type of challenge is when something wrong or even tragic happens. You have to be able to clear your mind and work through it until you can get off of position. Several controllers, myself included, have been the last person that talked to a pilot before a fatal accident. It is difficult to shake that feeling. Thankfully, NATCA (our labor union) has a trained team of counselors to help us through difficult times like those.

What is most rewarding?

Helping someone get home safely is the most rewarding thing I can think of. I’ve talked to pilots that are trying to get to an ailing family member before they pass on, and knowing that I helped get them to their loved ones’ bedside makes me feel like I’ve contributed to society.

What advice would you offer someone considering this career?

It is a lot of work, and it takes a certain predisposition to do this job. Besides learning how to control airplanes, you have to learn a complex language of terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. You have to be dedicated, and you can’t fudge your way through it. As trainers, we’re really good at seeing through a smokescreen.

How much time off do you get/take?

Depending on years of service, you get either 4, 6, or 8 hours of annual leave per pay period. There are 26 pay periods in a year. We also get 4 hours of sick leave per pay period.

What is a common misconception people have about what you do?

We are not the dudes waiving the flashlights at airplanes on the ramp, and it’s nothing like the movie “Pushing Tin.”

What are your goals/dreams for the future?

While we do have the opportunities to move to different and busier facilities, I am quite content to finish my career at Toledo ATCT. I really hate moving!

What else would you like people to know about your job/career?

Air Traffic Control is a rewarding field, but it is difficult and not meant for everyone. If someone is interested in ATC, they should be able to contact a facility near them and request a tour. Since 9/11, there are restrictions, but it should be possible to get a tour or job shadow for a day.