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