Will “Ground Control Approach Technician (GCA Technician)” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

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
• 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 “Ground Control Approach Technician (GCA Technician)”

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

Related Technology & Tools

• Wide area augmentation systems WAAS
• Very high frequency VHF radio communication systems
• Desktop computers
• Long range navigation systems LRNS
• Ultra high frequency UHF radio communication systems
• Precision runway monitor PRM
• Mode S radar systems
• Global positioning system GPS surveillance systems
• Flight simulators
• Air route surveillance radar ARSR systems
• Digital airport surveillance radar DASR systems
• Controller pilot datalink communication CPDC systems
• Differential global positioning system DGPS surveillance systems
• High frequency HF radio communications systems
• Area navigation RNAV systems
• Personal computers
• Mainframe computers
• Frequency modulation FM two way radios
• Nondirectional radio beacon markers
• Binoculars
• Distance measuring equipment DME
• Automatic direction finder ADF radio systems
• Standard terminal automation replacement systems STARS
• Airport surface detection equipment ASDE systems
• Local area augmentation systems LAAS
• Airport surveillance radar ASR systems
• Microwave landing systems MLS
• Transponder landing systems TLS

• Microsoft Office
• Automated radar terminal systems ARTS
• Traffic management advisor TMA software
• Center TRACON automation systems CTAS
• Expedite departure path EDP software
• Final approach spacing tool FAST
• Flight simulation software
• En route descent advisor EDA
• Advanced technologies and oceanic procedures ATOP
• Multi-center traffic management advisor McTMA
• Direct-to-tool software