Will “Control Tower Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
11% Chance of Automation
“Control Tower Operator” will almost certainly not be replaced by robots.
This job is ranked #178 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.
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Job Description
Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 53-2021.00
- The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 118,200.00
- The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 56.00
- Currently, there are 23,240 people on this job
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Air Traffic Controllers”.
Also Known As…
- Air Traffic Controllers
- Radar Air Traffic Controller
- Control Tower Operator
- Certified Professional Controller (CPC)
- Air Traffic Controller, Center
- Air Traffic Controller (Tower Option)
- Air Traffic Controller (Enroute Option)
- Air Traffic Controller (ATC)
- Air Traffic Control Specialist/Certified Professional Controller (ATC Specialist/CPC)
- Air Traffic Control Specialist, Terminal
- Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS)
- Traffic Control Specialist
- Tower Control Operator
- Tower Air Traffic Control Specialist
- Technical Communicator
- Station Air Traffic Control Specialist
- Signal Tower Operator
- Ground Control Approach Technician (GCA Technician)
- Flight Tower Dispatcher
- Flight Service Specialist
- Flight Radio Operator
- Flight Radio Officer
- Flight Dispatcher
- Flight Control Specialist
- Flight Communications Officer
- Enroute Controller
- Dispatcher
- Communicator
- Communications Operator
- Chief Controller
- Chief Communications Officer
- Airways Operations Specialist
- Airways Control Specialist
- Airway Traffic Controller
- Airway Controller
- Airport Traffic Controller
- Airport Tower Controller
- Airline Dispatcher
- Aircraft Communicator
- Air Traffic Supervisor
- Air Traffic Coordinator
- Air Traffic Control Operator
- Air Route Traffic Controller
- Air Route Controller
- Access Control Specialist
Tasks for “Control Tower Operator”
- Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
- Conduct pre-flight briefings on weather conditions, suggested routes, altitudes, indications of turbulence, or other flight safety information.
- Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.
- Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.
- Review records or reports for clarity and completeness and maintain records or reports as required under federal law.
- Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft.
- Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes.
- Direct ground traffic, including taxiing aircraft, maintenance or baggage vehicles, or airport workers.
- Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
- Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
- Compile information about flights from flight plans, pilot reports, radar, or observations.
- Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.
- Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
- Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
- Inspect, adjust, or control radio equipment or airport lights.
- Organize flight plans or traffic management plans to prepare for planes about to enter assigned airspace.
- Analyze factors such as weather reports, fuel requirements, or maps to determine air routes.
- Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes.
- Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
- Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
- Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages from aircraft.
- Relay air traffic information, such as courses, altitudes, or expected arrival times, to control centers.
- Provide on-the-job training to new air traffic controllers.
Related Technology & Tools
- Digital airport surveillance radar DASR systems
- Airport surveillance radar ASR systems
- Frequency modulation FM two way radios
- Very high frequency VHF radio communication systems
- Differential global positioning system DGPS surveillance systems
- Distance measuring equipment DME
- Local area augmentation systems LAAS
- Transponder landing systems TLS
- Desktop computers
- Automatic direction finder ADF radio systems
- Ultra high frequency UHF radio communication systems
- Global positioning system GPS surveillance systems
- Binoculars
- High frequency HF radio communications systems
- Airport surface detection equipment ASDE systems
- Mode S radar systems
- Area navigation RNAV systems
- Nondirectional radio beacon markers
- Flight simulators
- Personal computers
- Mainframe computers
- Standard terminal automation replacement systems STARS
- Precision runway monitor PRM
- Air route surveillance radar ARSR systems
- Wide area augmentation systems WAAS
- Microwave landing systems MLS
- Controller pilot datalink communication CPDC systems
- Long range navigation systems LRNS
- Flight simulation software
- Multi-center traffic management advisor McTMA
- Automated radar terminal systems ARTS
- Advanced technologies and oceanic procedures ATOP
- Traffic management advisor TMA software
- En route descent advisor EDA
- Expedite departure path EDP software
- Microsoft Office
- Final approach spacing tool FAST
- Center TRACON automation systems CTAS
- Direct-to-tool software