Air Traffic Control Assistant

Personal Qualities
• Controllers must be able to quickly understand and analyse complex radar and computerised flight data. Then respond appropriately.
• Excellent communication and team working skills.
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure.
• Decisiveness and self-discipline.
• Ease with technology.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
• Air Traffic Control assistant position is open to people with no previous aviation experience, but it is desired. 
• Typically require 5 GCSE’s, grade A-C, including Maths and English.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
• None specific, generally good physical and mental health.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Air Traffic Control Assistants are an essential part of the team.  The tasks may vary depending on whether you work as an approach or aerodrome assistant, but they typically include:
• Providing the Controller with up to date weather information.
• Providing the Controller with up to date and accurate flight information via a progress strip.
• Assisting the Controller with unexpected events, emergencies and unscheduled traffic.
• Approach controllers sequence aircraft for arrival towards the instrument landing systems, which allow some planes to make semi-automatic landings.

ANY OTHER INFORMATION/REQUIREMENTS
Training is mostly on the job with a Mentor and usually takes up to 3 months. There is the requirement to attend a Met Observers course as part of the training. After the training is completed, there are regular assessments of the Assistants competency.
There may be opportunities available to become an Air Traffic Controller. This would be subject to a good educational background and the right aptitude to achieve this.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY INVOLVE
The tasks may vary depending on whether you work as an approach or aerodrome assistant, but they typically include:
• Providing the Controller with up to date weather information;
• Providing the Controller with up to date and accurate flight information via a progress strip;
• Assisting the Controller with unexpected events, emergencies and unscheduled traffic.
• Approach controllers sequence aircraft for arrival towards the instrument landing systems, which allow some planes to make semi-automatic landings.