-
Compile information about flights from flight plans, pilot reports, radar, or observations.
-
Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.
-
Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
-
Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes.
-
Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.
-
Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.
-
Relay air traffic information, such as courses, altitudes, or expected arrival times, to control centers.
-
Review records or reports for clarity and completeness and maintain records or reports, as required under federal law.
-
Analyze factors such as weather reports, fuel requirements, or maps to determine air routes.
-
Conduct pre-flight briefings on weather conditions, suggested routes, altitudes, indications of turbulence, or other flight safety information.
-
Direct ground traffic, including taxiing aircraft, maintenance or baggage vehicles, or airport workers.
-
Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
-
Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages from aircraft.
-
Organize flight plans or traffic management plans to prepare for planes about to enter assigned airspace.
-
Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
-
Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft.
-
Provide on-the-job training to new air traffic controllers.
-
Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
-
Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
-
Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
-
Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes.
-
Inspect, adjust, or control radio equipment or airport lights.
-
Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.