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)”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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