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)”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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