How many ATC are there?


How many ATC are there? Air traffic controllers use their skills and judgment to safely direct more than 70,000 flights daily to their destinations. The U.S. air traffic controller workforce consists of approximately 14,000 dedicated, highly-skilled, and well-trained men and women.


What is the age limit for air traffic controller?

Requirements for Becoming an Air Traffic Controller To meet the FAA's requirements to become an air traffic controller, you must: Be a U.S. citizen. Be 30 years old or younger. Pass a medical examination — and continue to pass it annually once you're hired.


Is ATC harder than pilot?

Piloting, especially on large, complex aircraft, is largely a matter of training and practice. Talent is required, of course, but mostly you just have to put your hours in. In that sense, training and qualifying to be an airline pilot is more rigorous than becoming an ATC at a busy facility.


What is the highest ATC?

The award for the tallest air traffic control tower at an airport goes to a rather recent addition. The ATC tower at Saudi Arabia's Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) only opened in 2017, and, at 136 meters (446 feet), it's taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza.


How many types of ATC are there?

There are three types of air traffic controllers. These are tower controllers, terminal controllers and en route controllers. The diagram below shows who is in control at various stages of flight.


Can a foreigner be an air traffic controller?

To work as an FAA controller, you must be a U.S. citizen. To work as a EUROCONTROL controller, you must be a national of one of their member states. Per standard governmental employment laws, I assume most countries around the world have similar requirements. Are there any exceptions?


Do you need 20 20 to be a Air Traffic Controller?

With or without correction air traffic controllers must demonstrate 20/20 distant vision in each eye separately, 20/40 in each eye at 16 inches near vision, and 20/40 in each eye at 32 inches intermediate vision if they are 50 years of age or older. Glasses or contact lenses are permitted.


Who employs most air traffic controllers?

Most air traffic controllers work for the federal government and are employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).


Is there a lack of air traffic controllers?

As Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg revealed earlier this year, there are some 3,000 unfilled controller positions in a workforce that should number over 14,000 full-time employees. Currently there are around 11,000 controllers, with several thousand at various stages of the training process.


Is ATC a stressful job?

Being an air traffic controller is an extremely high-stress job, with workers responsible for the movement and direction of thousands of lives onboard commercial and general aviation aircraft every day.


Do air traffic controllers make 6 figures?

Air traffic controller is a six-figure job that doesn't require a four-year degree. People with this position are responsible for making sure that aircraft are operating at a safe distance from each other.