The ATC Academy

Monday, August 24, 2020 at 01:47 PM ET

Verified

These controller training consoles went into service in 2015, incorporating simulation software know as SIGNAL (simulation and integration of ground, network and air links). The software enables communication between student controllers and remote pilots, and with surrounding simulation facilities. Yes, some of the equipment runs on Microsoft Windows.

Key Takeaways:

The author's path to becoming an air traffic controller involved an initial "off the street" application and aptitude test, followed by enrollment in an FAA-recognized College Training Initiative (CTI) program to expedite the lengthy application and selection process.
Becoming an air traffic controller requires a rigorous vetting process, including comprehensive medical and psychological examinations, an intense background check, and a significant waiting period before an academy offer.
Training at the FAA Academy is highly demanding, involving extensive study of regulations, intense simulator exercises, strict adherence to professionalism, and a high-stakes Performance Verification exam.
The air traffic control profession requires mental resilience, continuous learning, and the ability to perform under pressure, ultimately offering a rewarding career in public service.

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My present career as an air traffic controller started in 2008, when I took my first tower tour. I had earned my private pilot certificate earlier that year and wanted to meet the faces behind the voices I kept hearing. The two gentlemen I met had lengthy careers in the FAA, which included Flight Service and Air Traffic Control. They were immensely helpful with the questions I had. They had opposite personalities, yet sounded remarkably similar; I will never forget those guys.

Later in 2008, I graduated college, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. It was not the best of times: I had debt, I had dreams and I needed a career. Early in 2009, after applying for numerous jobs, I landed a teaching position at the local high school. Apparently, my luck was changing because I discovered the FAA was accepting controller applicants “off the street.” I applied and about three months later, I was invited to take the FAA’s aptitude test.