Career Suggestion

Air traffic controller

Air traffic controllers give information and instructions to airline pilots to help them take off and land safely and on time.

Average salary (a year)

£48000.0 to £100000.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

35.0 to 45.0

You could work

days / nights / weekends on shifts

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • a trainee scheme

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship to get into this career, for example:

  • Aviation Flight Operations Co-ordinator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Aviation Operations Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Air Traffic Controller Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship

You may be able to work in a similar role through an armed forces apprenticeship:

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • RAF apprenticeships|https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/apprenticeships
  • Royal Navy apprenticeships|https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/joining-options/apprenticeships
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Other Routes

You can apply for a place as a trainee with National Air Traffic Services .

You'll need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent qualifications , including English and maths. You must also successfully complete several assessment stages before being offered a training place.

You'll be expected to relocate to Fareham in Hampshire while training. Once you qualify, you could work anywhere in the UK.

Initial training takes up to 1 year and further training will continue while you're working.

You may also be considered for training if you have relevant aviation experience as a military air traffic controller, or military or commercial pilot.

More Information

Career Tips

Senior air traffic controllers' salaries can range from £70,000 to over £100,000 at larger UK airports.

Further Information

You can find out more about becoming an air traffic controller from National Air Traffic Services.

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • concentration skills
  • knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
  • the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • complex problem-solving skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

You should be eligible to work in the UK.

You must be prepared to work anywhere in the UK.

Day-to-day tasks

Your tasks will vary depending on which type of air traffic controller you are. There are 3 types:

  • area controllers - track and guide aircraft flying at higher altitudes through a sector and are based at a regional control centre
  • approach controllers - manage aircraft as they approach the airport and give instructions to planes that have just taken off
  • aerodrome controllers - work in a control tower, giving clearance to land and take off, and guide pilots to the correct taxi positions on stands and runways

As a controller, you could:

  • make sure safe distances are maintained between aircraft
  • keep in radio contact with flight crew and give instructions
  • hand over aircraft control from your sector to the next one on the flight path
  • prevent collisions between planes and other obstacles on runways
  • respond to emergencies
  • monitor data

Working environment

You could work in an airport control tower.

With experience, you could move into training and assessing new controllers, or become a supervisor or unit manager.

You could also move into airport operations management.

Related careers

Back to course details