Air traffic controllers or ATC are people trained to maintain the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic in the global air traffic system. The position of air traffic controllers is one that requires highly specialized knowledge, skills and abilities. Air traffic controllers apply separation rules to keep aircraft at a safe distance from each other in their area of responsibility and mo
ve all aircraft safely and efficiently through their assigned sector of airspace, as well as on the ground. Because air traffic controllers have an incredibly large responsibility while on duty and make countless split-second decisions on a daily basis, the ATC profession is consistently regarded around the world as one of the most mentally challenging careers and notoriously stressful. Many air traffic controllers however, would cite high salaries, a unique, and privileged degree of autonomy as major advantages of their jobs. Air traffic controllers are generally individuals who are well organized, are quick with numeric computation and mathematics, have assertive and firm decision making skills, able to maintain ‘their cool’ and composure under pressure and possess an excellent long term memory. Through numerous studies throughout the decades, it has been successfully demonstrated that air traffic controllers usually have a superior visual memory, and in addition, studies have shown that air traffic controllers generally have a degree of situational awareness that is significantly better than the population average. In ‘games’ involving short-term memory, peer-induced stresses, and real-time risk analysis, air traffic controllers scored better than the control group in every experiment. Excellent hearing and speaking skills are a requirement, and trainees undergo rigorous physical and psychological testing.
