Air Traffic Control | Schenectady County Community College

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 53-2021.00

Skills

Active ListeningSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingCoordinationActive Learning

Knowledge

TransportationEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal Service

Abilities

Problem SensitivityOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionSelective AttentionDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningSpeed of ClosureFlexibility of ClosurePerceptual SpeedTime Sharing

Tasks

Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and di
Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flig
Monitor, direct, or sequence the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.

Technology

Document management softwareExpert system softwareFlight control softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareData base user interface and query software

Tools

Air route surveillance radar ARSR systemsAirport surface detection equipment ASDE systemsAirport surveillance radar ASR systemsArea navigation RNAV systemsAutomatic direction finder ADF radio systemsBinocularsController pilot datalink communication CPDC systemsDesktop computersDifferential global positioning system DGPS surveillance systemsDigital airport surveillance radar DASR systemsDistance measuring equipment DMEFlight simulatorsFrequency modulation FM two way radiosGlobal positioning system GPS surveillance systemsHigh frequency HF radio communications systems

Work Values

SupportWorking ConditionsIndependenceAchievementRecognitionRelationships

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: medium53-2021.00	Air Traffic Controllers	title_inference	—	—	—

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: developing (Level 2)(based on Associate's Degree)

Pilot hazard advisories — communicate weather, turbulence, and visibility hazards to multiple flight crews concurrently with reduced oversight during routine operational traffic loads.
Takeoff and landing clearances — issue sequenced departure and arrival authorizations accurately and independently across moderate traffic volumes in a terminal radar or tower environment.
Sector handoff coordination — execute smooth transfer of flight data and communications between adjacent control positions and centers with minimal supervisory intervention.
Radar monitoring and conflict detection — scan assigned airspace continuously using radar and flight control software to identify developing conflicts and apply timely corrective vectors.
Emergency flight path guidance — provide alternate routing and diversion instructions to pilots experiencing in-flight emergencies or severe weather encounters in familiar airspace configurations.
Emergency services notification — coordinate with airport rescue and firefighting services, relaying accurate aircraft position and situation data during declared or developing emergencies.
Ground traffic sequencing — direct aircraft and vehicles on taxiways and aprons to maintain efficient flow and prevent incursions during peak departure and arrival banks.
Traffic flow optimization — adjust spacing and sequencing of arriving and departing aircraft to minimize delays while sustaining safety margins during standard busy-period operations.
Flight strip and data management — maintain accurate, up-to-date flight progress information using document management and database software throughout a full operational shift.
Inter-facility communication — coordinate with approach, departure, and en-route sectors via telecommunications systems to manage hand-offs and special-use airspace restrictions.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.