How long does it take for a air traffic controller to get his degree?

Question

how many years?

job availability?

is it fun?

anything helps

Answer 1

I don't think there's such a thing as an 'air traffic controller degree'. Air traffic controller training usually takes between 6 months - 1 year, in addition to 1-2 years on probation (someone will be watching you very closely) on the job. You'll probably start out controlling little planes at an low-traffic airport... which is good, because you'd still be in training right? Hours can be strange, planes come and go at all times of the day. What I'm told is that it is very stressful, sometimes fun (its up to the controller and pilots to make it fun) and I've never heard complaints about job availability.

Answer 2

There are schools that offer an Air Traffic controller "degree".  Once you've completed the coursework, you take a test and depending on your score, interview for a training position.  You have to score pretty high to get an interview.  I had a 97 out of 100 and was one of the lower people offered an interview.  Since it's a government position, you have ex-military and other gov't employees who get additional points, which makes them tough to beat.

The training typically takes about 4 years before you're cut loose.  At first, you just provide data and other information to senior contollers.  Rookies are tested by being put in stressful situations, to determine how you will handle real life stresses, when you have lots of traffic in your area or planes on a collision course, for instance.

There are alway openings for ATC's, as the failure rate is pretty high and there are lots of upcoming retirements.  You must be under 31 to be accepted into the program.  It's only as fun as having thousands of lives in your hands can be.

Pay is pretty good, I think it starts in the high 40's and a veteran ATC can up to 150K.  There are different levels, depending on where you're working.  Most ATC's start at small airports, work their way up to larger ones, and into regional centers that control in-flight airplanes that are not in airport fly zones.  Arrival controllers are the most experienced, typically.

The FAA site on becoming an ATC:

http://www.faa.gov/jobs/job_opportunitie...

Arizona State's Air Traffic Management BS program:

http://eastair.poly.asu.edu/degrees/airt...