Ask Air Traffic Control: How tough is controller training?
In this Oct. 19, 2011, photo, air traffic controllers guide planes in and out of the Memphis International Airport. (Photo: Mike Brown, The Commercial Appeal via AP)
Question: How tough is the training to become an air traffic controller?
Answer: Training is very tough. The training process depends on which facility a person is assigned. There are three different kinds of facilities in the National Airspace System: airport towers, Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities, which handle the airspace in generally a 50-mile radius around airports, and the 21 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) that handle large sections of airspace across multiple states.
New hires are typically not placed at very busy airports or TRACONs. Much like professional baseball, many trainees hone their skills at less busy airports and move up with experience. However, ARTCCs have a different training process that is more conducive to new hires starting there and progressing successfully.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kalau di Malaysia three different facilities tu pertama nyer adalah Aerodrome Control Course untuk control traffic di Airport means that duduk kt tower (mcm yang me buat skrg). Yang kedua yang disebut sebagai Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities ialah Approach Non-Radar Procedural Course - A29 AATCO have to take this course) and Approach Radar Course - which is the highest, the toughest and the last course as an ATC. Tugas nya lebih mencabar kerana ATC nie control a small airspace within airport area yang mana disinlah semua kapal nak masuk dan keluar dari sesebuah airport. Yang ketiga which is Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) include Area Non-Radar Prosedure Course and Area Radar Course - A41 ATCO must attend this course (my batch including me already fulfill this course as one of the requirement for confirmation). ATC yang handle this job responsible to the wide airspace cover by that country. Kalo Malaysia from part of India Ocean ke sebahagian Laut China Selatan and airspace cover in Sabah and Sarawak area. In between Laut China Selatan tu dikawal oleh Singapore.
JANA
Salam Faezah,
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog when searching for AATCO A29.Fyi,I sat for the AATCO A29 exam last year ( May ) & went for the PAC with DCA in Sept 2012.I made it to the final stage,which was an interview with SPA on 10th January.Being married with 4 kids,I was questioned repeatedly by the interviewers whether or not I am ready for the job,being away from the kids & my concern for shift job.And actually I didn't mention that I am already a 3rd year student of a distant learning in Physics.I am currently extending my academic session hoping that I will get this job,but I am still wondering when the academic session starts,will I be able to finish my degree course?Will it consume my time & will I be granted any exam leave?My learning method does not include any weekend class,but I will have to attend in-campus intensive course that usually takes 2-3 weeks duration.Will there be any clash?I would be very thankful if you can share some of your experience on the class arrangement during your intern at MaVa.jazak Allah :-)
Salam Aisyah,
ReplyDeleteGood to hear that u make it to the final stage. Hopefully u will get this job. Best of luck.
For ur information when we register for the job there is continuous training course starting with Primary course that will take about 3 month with every day full of classes and test in every 2 week (depend on the subject) and also exam. When u said that u're distant learning it that mean u taking part time or full time? If u take a full time degree course definitely there is clash between ur class and MAvA class. During training at Mava u can't/not recommended to take any leave. Even maternity leave also not recommended to the trainee - my colleague only have 2 week leave for maternity and attend to class masa berpantang with all the socks :). Even to get married also have to be done only weekend and come back to class on monday as usual) so i think u should well wise that leave are not allowed during training. But i think there is a room for negotiation. u can arrange it with the management. i think there will consider ur leave depend on the Mava schedule but of course mava schedule is the priority.
Salam Faezah,
ReplyDeleteI've been reading your blog posts since the very beginning I knew that I have been shortlisted to sit for AATCO exam..that was held on 7 Dec 13. Just wondering if you have any idea? Because during this batch, the exam gap between A41 and A29 was only one week. But their PAC already conducted last weekend..I was wondering because our result will be out in the middle of January..I thought the intake for A41 and A29 is the same? Please correct me if I'm wrong..
I waited 5 years to be called for this position..Now I set my aim high. Really hopeful to get this job as I love everything about it..Even though right now I worked under government service..but still I feel that there is an emptiness in my heart..Whenever I see an airport, an aircraft, or the control tower..my heart is pounding..like I needed to be there..haha..please don't laugh..I don't know..It's like falling in love with something..I don't care about the shift hour, I don't care about the term 'study until you get old'..I love it instead..I am ready to give up everything..My Job..my freelance job as a subtitler..and actually I am also pursuing my Degree in Law..huhu..thanks for reading my comment..