The Job
So what exactly will you do as an Air Traffic Controller (ATCO)? Well, essentially, you'll be responsible for controlling aircraft in UK airspace. So you'll need to balance issues of safety - which are our primary concern - with other aspects, such as ensuring planes arrive and depart on time. That's why we look for people with maturity, dedication and common sense. People who have the wherewithal to make the most of our comprehensive training and carve out a successful and rewarding future for themselves.
Our ATCOs come from all kinds of backgrounds. We have people who have joined us straight from school/college, university or who have worked in office-based roles, customer service, retail - anywhere, in fact - so as you can see it's not so much where you come from that matters. It's your skills and competencies that really count. These can be divided into the following categories:
- ATC Motivation
- Conscientiousness and Rule Adherence
- Decisiveness and Confidence
- Emotional Stability
- Error Awareness
- Information Processing Capacity
- Numerical Awareness
- Openness to Learning and Development
- Planning, Decision Making and Problem Solving
- Spatial Awareness
- Team Working.
We'll also expect you to have at least five GCSEs, or equivalent, at Grade C or above, including English and Maths.
So, you’re interested in becoming an Air Traffic Controller (ATCO). Why don’t you have a look around our website, where you can learn more about the role and what you’ll get in terms of benefits and training, as well as getting the lowdown on things like eligibility. You’ll also find a frequently asked questions (FAQs) section and some games for you to play so you can test your skills.
You need to enable javascript and a recent version of the Adobe Flash player to view these videos.