I am a 27 year old women and I am thinking of becoming an Air Traffic Controller. I am looking for advise?

Question

I have a BA in Business Management and I worked for UPS for 6 years as an operations supervisor. I don't want the typical desk job and enjoy a face paced and challanging environment. I was hoping for some input on being a woman and an ATC and how to go about getting there. I know you need to take a test and then 12 weeks of training, but how hard is the test and how do you prepare for it?

Answer 1

First, about the test:  Don't worry too much about preparing for the it.  It is designed so that preparation is not all that helpful.  You can search for AT-SAT  on line and get some ideas about it, though.

Now, about the job:  I plan to retire next January with 25 years in the profession, the last few years "controlling a desk" instead of airplanes.  It has been a wonderful job.  The pay is good, and the working conditions - well, that may be debatable.  Depending on the type of facility, you may be expected to work nights, mids, holidays, and times when you'd really rather be with all your friends celebrating whatever.  The job can be extremely stressful, but it is short term stress and when you leave, the job is done  - for better or for worse.  When you return the next day, the job begins anew.  

Unlike an office job, work does not pile up when you take a vacation.  Do you like to know if you're doing a good job?  The feedback is instantaneous - you know from moment to moment how well you're doing, as do your customers and your fellow workers.  At the end of a rush, with bad weather, holding, and heaven knows what else that you've had to deal with, if you've done a great job, the feeling of accomplishment is wonderful.

Are there down sides?  Of course, more than I can mention.  The pay, while good, will not be what the folks that are retiring are earning.  Will you still be working for the FAA in five years, or will you be working for Lockheed Martin or Boeing or ??? Who knows?

As for comments about the your spelling:  if you don't plan to move to any position other that controlling, it is not a big issue. The ability to separate airplanes has little to do with being a spelling bee champ or almost any other educational benchmark.  Controlling aircraft is a unique talent, and even making it by through ATSAT, etc. doesn't mean that you won't wash out in training.  We are training large numbers of controllers these days, and at my facility (and I'm sure at others) developmental controllers  resign or are removed regularly.

You are now 27, and the maximum age to be hired is 30.  Are you willing to take a few chances - and if you find that you can't do the job, you won't be  devastated?  Do you want one of the most exciting jobs you can have sitting in a big, dark room?  If you're at all interested, give it a shot.  Good Luck.

Answer 2

First thing you need to do is learn how to spell. This question is poorly written for someone with your "credentials". You need to think about the fact that you will have people's lives in your hands. Not a job to be entered into lightly.

Answer 3

First thing, ATC is incredibly stressful, it has a the highest rate of suicide of any job in the US.

It is very high stress, and you have to have a very very good visualization skills in your head in order to keep traffic flowing safely and quickly.

It is normal for ATC controllers to give up or get fired in there first few weeks, And it is very common for them to cause mistakes. I have been put in head on collision courses by new controllers several times, but a good pilot keeps track of other radio traffic in his area and can avoid situations like that.

To tell you the truth, If I didnt like flying and computers so much, I would work for ATC. Its a whole other ballgame for someone who actually flies because you already have a high understanding of what you need to do, and youve developed the visualization skills needed to guide other pilots.

I would recommend at least getting your private pilots license and some instrument training before becoming a controller, it would make a huge difference on how you approach the job.

Answer 4

If you love flying, can take the stress, and have the brains (which it sounds like you do), then I'd say go for it.

Answer 5

There is an gigantic shortage of controllers in the coming years. Many are set to retire and there aren't enough replacements being trained. So from that standpoint, there will be many opportunities available. However, it can be a very stressful job which could impact your lifestyle. Go to the FAA website to find out more about hiring. I would strongly recommend you visit your local control tower and talk to the controllers themselves. I don't think the test is all that hard. Good luck!

Answer 6

You may well earn lots of money but end up with cardiac or psychiatric problems.

My advice...........forget it.

Answer 7

i dont think you would enjoy working as an ATC, it's for the boys toots.

Answer 8

Well..first of all you have to go online and apply for a job with FAA...I'm really sorry to tell you that it can take up to a year or more to get hired...you can;t have any DUI's though....and once you are hired they are going to send you to Oklahoma City for a training (school) and actually you are going to learn everything you need at school and if you have a BA it's not going to be that hard...good luck :-)