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Air Traffic Controllers

SOC 53-2021.00Job Zone 3 · Medium Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers air traffic control operations in tower, terminal radar, and en-route environments from initial credentialed entry through facility leadership, encompassing communication, safety management, emergency response, and workforce development.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Pilot hazard notifications — identify and relay basic weather, wind, and visibility conditions to pilots under direct supervisor guidance in a training tower environment.
  2. Landing and take-off authorizations — issue standard clearances following scripted protocols under continuous oversight during simulated or entry-level live operations.
  3. Flight transfer procedures — recognize the steps for transferring departing flights to en-route centers and accepting arriving flights under close supervision in a controlled facility.
  4. Radar and visual reference tools — operate basic radar displays and computer equipment to locate aircraft positions within an assigned airspace under trainer direction.
  5. Traffic pattern instructions — direct pilots to maintain holding patterns when runways are occupied, following established scripts with supervisor review of each transmission.
  6. Emergency alert activation — identify emergency situations and initiate contact with airport emergency services using standard protocols under the guidance of a certified controller.
  7. Radio communication standards — apply correct phraseology and readback procedures during routine pilot communications in a live or simulated tower cab setting.
  8. Aircraft movement monitoring — track ground and airborne traffic within a limited sector using flight strips and display systems with regular check-ins from a supervising controller.
  9. Weather data interpretation — read and report basic meteorological information from automated weather observing systems to flight crews during routine shift operations.
  10. Separation standards awareness — recognize minimum lateral and vertical separation requirements between aircraft and flag potential conflicts for immediate supervisor review.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Pilot hazard advisories — communicate weather, turbulence, and visibility hazards to multiple flight crews concurrently with reduced oversight during routine operational traffic loads.
  2. Takeoff and landing clearances — issue sequenced departure and arrival authorizations accurately and independently across moderate traffic volumes in a terminal radar or tower environment.
  3. Sector handoff coordination — execute smooth transfer of flight data and communications between adjacent control positions and centers with minimal supervisory intervention.
  4. Radar monitoring and conflict detection — scan assigned airspace continuously using radar and flight control software to identify developing conflicts and apply timely corrective vectors.
  5. Emergency flight path guidance — provide alternate routing and diversion instructions to pilots experiencing in-flight emergencies or severe weather encounters in familiar airspace configurations.
  6. Emergency services notification — coordinate with airport rescue and firefighting services, relaying accurate aircraft position and situation data during declared or developing emergencies.
  7. Ground traffic sequencing — direct aircraft and vehicles on taxiways and aprons to maintain efficient flow and prevent incursions during peak departure and arrival banks.
  8. Traffic flow optimization — adjust spacing and sequencing of arriving and departing aircraft to minimize delays while sustaining safety margins during standard busy-period operations.
  9. Flight strip and data management — maintain accurate, up-to-date flight progress information using document management and database software throughout a full operational shift.
  10. Inter-facility communication — coordinate with approach, departure, and en-route sectors via telecommunications systems to manage hand-offs and special-use airspace restrictions.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex hazard advisories — assess and communicate multiple simultaneous weather and traffic hazards to diverse flight crews autonomously across a full shift in high-density airspace.
  2. Non-standard clearance issuance — develop and issue amended routing, altitude, and speed clearances for non-routine scenarios, including military operations and special-event airspace, without supervisor input.
  3. Multi-sector traffic management — manage the complete flow of arrivals, departures, and overflights across an entire terminal or en-route sector independently during peak and off-peak periods.
  4. Emergency scenario management — execute full emergency response sequences, including pilot guidance, emergency service activation, and facility notifications, for complex in-flight emergencies with minimal delay.
  5. Systems performance evaluation — assess the operational effectiveness of radar, flight control software, and communications equipment and recommend corrective actions when system degradation affects safety.
  6. Adverse-condition traffic handling — maintain safe and efficient traffic flows during significant weather deviations, equipment outages, or runway closures through real-time problem solving and contingency routing.
  7. Situational awareness under high workload — sustain accurate mental models of all traffic within assigned airspace during peak operations, applying selective attention and time-sharing skills to prevent conflicts.
  8. Cross-facility coordination leadership — lead real-time coordination with adjacent ATC facilities, airline operations centers, and military agencies during airspace events requiring multi-party solutions.
  9. Training progress assessment — evaluate trainee controller performance objectively using established certification criteria and provide structured feedback during on-the-job training sessions.
  10. Regulatory compliance assurance — apply FAA orders, procedures, and Letters of Agreement accurately in all operational decisions, ensuring full regulatory compliance throughout complex traffic scenarios.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Facility-wide safety strategy — establish and champion safety management initiatives, hazard identification programs, and quality assurance processes across an entire ATC facility to sustain organizational safety culture.
  2. Controller workforce development — design and oversee structured on-the-job training curricula and certification pathways, mentoring developing controllers to full operational capability at facility and sector level.
  3. Airspace design and optimization — lead collaborative reviews of sector boundaries, traffic flow procedures, and Letters of Agreement to improve capacity, efficiency, and safety across a regional airspace structure.
  4. Emergency preparedness planning — develop and exercise facility-wide emergency response plans covering equipment failures, security threats, and mass-casualty events in coordination with airport authority and federal agencies.
  5. Technology integration leadership — evaluate and champion the adoption of new radar, flight control, and data management technologies, guiding staff through transition and ensuring operational continuity.
  6. Performance metrics and accountability — define key operational performance indicators, analyze facility-level data using ERP and reporting tools, and present findings to FAA management to drive continuous improvement.
  7. Cross-agency policy coordination — represent the facility in negotiations with airline stakeholders, military commanders, and regulatory bodies to align airspace use policies with national air traffic management goals.
  8. Staffing and resource planning — direct workforce scheduling, position qualification tracking, and contingency staffing strategies to sustain 24-hour facility operations under variable traffic and personnel demands.
  9. Organizational resilience during crises — lead real-time facility-level decision-making during major weather events, national security incidents, or infrastructure failures, maintaining safe operations and coordinating with the ATCSCC.
  10. Industry knowledge dissemination — author procedural guidance, present at aviation safety conferences, and collaborate with academic or training institutions to advance best practices across the air traffic control profession.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors60 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Access Control Specialist · Air Route Controller · Air Route Traffic Controller · Air Traffic Control Operator · Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) · Air Traffic Control Support Specialist (ATC Support Specialist) · Air Traffic Controller (ATC) · Air Traffic Coordinator · Air Traffic Manager · Aircraft Communicator · Airline Dispatcher · Airport Tower Controller
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Active ListeningSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingCoordinationActive LearningReading ComprehensionTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessOperations MonitoringSystems AnalysisInstructingService OrientationSystems EvaluationWritingLearning Strategies
Knowledge domains
TransportationEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServiceGeographyTelecommunicationsMathematics
Abilities
Problem SensitivityOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionSelective AttentionDeductive ReasoningSpeed of ClosureInductive ReasoningFlexibility of ClosureNear VisionTime Sharing
Work styles
CautiousnessAttention to DetailStress ToleranceSelf-ControlDependabilityIntegrity
Technology
Document management softwareExpert system softwareFlight control softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation softwareWord processing software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.
  2. Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
  3. Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
  4. Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
  5. Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
  6. Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
  7. Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
  8. Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references.
CIP education codes
49.0105

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.