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Inside CNN's exploration of the intense training ground for air traffic controllers, honing their skills to handle demanding and critical skies.

CNN delves into the rigorous training of air traffic controllers, focusing on their ability to handle stressful and critical airspace management.

CNN delves into the rigorous classroom where air traffic controllers are trained to handle...
CNN delves into the rigorous classroom where air traffic controllers are trained to handle demanding and risky skies.

Inside CNN's exploration of the intense training ground for air traffic controllers, honing their skills to handle demanding and critical skies.

In the heart of Oklahoma City, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy stands as a beacon for aspiring air traffic controllers. Since its establishment in late 1946, this prestigious institution has been shaping the future of air traffic management.

The path to becoming an air traffic controller is rigorous and demanding, designed to ensure the highest level of safety and efficiency in the skies. Here's an in-depth look at the requirements and training process that potential controllers must undergo.

## Becoming an Air Traffic Controller: The Eligibility Criteria To begin the journey, applicants must meet basic eligibility criteria. They must be U.S. citizens, under 30 years old (with some exceptions for those with prior military service), pass a medical examination, a security investigation, and speak English fluently. Additionally, they need one year of relevant work experience, a Bachelor's degree, or a combination of post-secondary education and work experience that totals one year.

## The FAA's Pre-Employment Tests and Medical & Security Screenings Once the basic eligibility is met, candidates must pass the FAA's pre-employment tests, which assess cognitive abilities relevant to air traffic control. Successful candidates then proceed to medical and security screenings to ensure their suitability for the role.

## The Training Process at the FAA Academy The training process at the FAA Academy is comprehensive and immersive. It consists of four main stages: initial training, option-specific training, classroom and practical training, assignment and on-the-job training, and certification.

**Initial Training** commences with the Air Traffic Basics Course, a five-week programme covering fundamental air traffic control concepts. Students from AT-CTI schools may bypass this course due to prior education.

Following the basics, students receive **Option-Specific Training** in either terminal or en-route operations.

Subsequently, students undergo **Classroom and Practical Training**, including life-like simulations such as tabletop exercises and tower simulations. These exercises help develop the skills needed for air traffic control.

After completing the FAA Academy's training, students are assigned to an air traffic control facility where they receive several years of on-the-job training.

Only after completing all phases of training and passing performance evaluations can an individual receive a full air traffic controller certificate.

## Enhanced AT-CTI Programs Some universities, like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Middle Georgia State University, offer Enhanced AT-CTI programs. These programmes allow students to receive equivalent FAA Academy training at their university, potentially bypassing the initial training at the FAA Academy and going directly into on-the-job training at local facilities.

The FAA pays for training at the academy, and students receive an hourly salary while they are enrolled. The academy also hires people to operate as pilots on the other end of the radio to better emulate real-life situations.

Students have to keep track of turbulence and other factors that might disrupt planes trying to navigate the airspace. The academy's training includes simulating instructions for planes to prepare for takeoff but not start rolling until given more instructions, such as "FedEx 2285 heavy, academy Tower, hold short runway 28, right."

In tabletop exercises, students learn phraseology and maps, and practice responding to requests for taxiing and takeoff. Instructors use virtual emergencies to train students on how to respond appropriately.

This year, the FAA has expanded its onsite training by nearly 30%, with July seeing the highest number of students in training - 550 by the end of the month. The academy trains students to fill over 3,000 air traffic controller jobs to address a decades-long shortage.

Eric Wedel, the FAA's course coordinator for tower training, has been an instructor at the Academy since 2017 and was a controller for 28 years before that. The academy has a rigorous application and qualification process, including an aptitude test, medical and background checks, and a five-step plan.

In tower simulations, students practice controlling virtual airplanes at a fictitious airfield with two parallel runways and a third cutting across at an angle. Controllers in training are encouraged to look out the virtual windows to observe aircraft rather than just relying on radar. The simulator can create rain, snow, and wind conditions, but there are some things that can't be duplicated outside of a real tower.

Graduates of the academy are placed in towers and radar centers across the country, where training continues for one to three years before they become certified professional controllers. After three years in the field, graduates earn an average of $160,000 per year, according to the FAA. Controllers have a mandatory retirement age of 56 but can retire at age 50 with 20 years of service. The DOT has been pushing for controllers in their 50s to stay on to help alleviate the staffing shortage.

The training process for air traffic controllers at the FAA Academy is a testament to the commitment to safety and efficiency in the skies. It equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to manage the complex world of air traffic control, ensuring the smooth operation of nearly every flight in the country, carrying over 2.5 million passengers to 20,000 different airports.

  1. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy's comprehensive training process, catering to aspiring air traffic controllers, includes not only practical and theoretical courses but also technology integrations in their training, such as using simulators to mimic various weather conditions and air traffic scenarios.
  2. In addition to the rigorous training, prospective air traffic controllers are expected to engage in continuing education-and-self-development, as the FAA encourages individuals to learn new technology related to travel, enhancing the overall effectiveness and safety in air traffic management.

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