Air Traffic Controllers play a crucial role in ensuring the safe and orderly movement of aircraft. Their responsibilities include coordinating the flow of aircraft to, from, and between airports. To excel in this profession, Air Traffic Controllers must possess qualities such as confident decision-making, precision, quick thinking, and the ability to perform effectively under high-pressure situations. Excellent communication skills, a strong sense of spatial awareness, and the capacity to collaborate within a team are also essential attributes. Those in this role work in shifts around the clock, with the potential for assignments on any day of the year.
In India, individuals holding an ATC license have employment opportunities with organizations such as the Airport Authority of India (AAI), the Indian Air Force, and controlled aerodromes.
There are 3 types of air traffic controllers:
Aerodrome controllers
Responsible for the movement of all vehicles, including aircraft, that are on taxiways and runways. They issue clearances to take off and land and route aircraft around the airfield so they can taxi safely between runways, stands and other areas they need to travel to.
Approach controllers
Responsible for separation and guidance of aircraft traveling in the airspace surrounding an airport. They manage aircraft approaching an airport putting them into the most efficient sequence to land. They also manage those that have just departed the airport in their initial phases of flight.
Area controllers
Responsible for transiting aircraft in en-route airspace. They issue levels, headings and speeds to separate aircraft, providing a safe and expeditious routing through the sector of airspace that they manage.
Responsibilities
Conduct air traffic control operations within Indian airspace, ensuring precise and safe guidance for flights departing from and arriving at airports. This involves meticulous adherence to established procedures and regulations.
Offer essential navigational support and guidance to effectively manage air traffic at airports and along airline routes. Collaboration with regional monitoring centers is crucial in this regard.
Vigilantly oversee equipment and personnel in areas related to aircraft maneuvering and parking, including oversight of baggage vehicles and maintenance staff.
In the event of emergencies, provide valuable assistance to pilots by issuing instructions, taking requisite actions, notifying relevant authorities, and coordinating responses to address and manage any incidents effectively.
Eligibility
Process
How To Apply
Apply Online through AAI website www.aai.aero in English only.
The link is available on www.aai.aero under tab “CAREERS”.
Complete the 2 STEP registration process.
Registration starts from July – September
Voice Test
Fluency and Clear audibility in spoken English
Employment
As the training is successfully concluded, the candidate is employed as Junior Executive (ATC). HAL and small private airports recruit ATCs mainly from AAI. Defence recruits their ATC independently
Online Examination
The Online Examination may be held at centres in TEN CITIES (Delhi / Mumbai / Kolkata / Chennai/ Hyderabad/ Trivandrum / Allahabad / Guwahati / Nagpur / Ahmedabad) only.
Written Test of 120 questions of 1 mark each consisting following sections.
Part A (60) – English (20), General Knowledge (10), General Intelligence (15), General Aptitude (15)
Part B (60)- Questions from Engineering Branch Math (30) and Physics (30)
Syllabus available at the Link given under Careers tab of www.aai.aero.
No negative marking.
Passing cut-off is different for different categories. List is available on the website.
Interview
Personal HR Interview
Salary (Starting)
INR 40,000 pm + 3% annual increment + allowances
Medical Test
Medical Fitness as per ICAO Annex 1 Myopia is acceptable if correctable by lenses 6/6.
Training
Candidates will start a 1-year training at Civil Aviation Training College, Allahabad, UP or Area Control Training Centre, Hyderabad. Cost of training is borne by AAI. Subjects to be studied during training are Air Traffic Services Aerodromes and Ground Aids Air Legislation Meteorology Communication Procedures Technical Search and Rescue
Training
Candidates will start a 1-year training at Civil Aviation Training College, Allahabad, UP or Area Control Training Centre, Hyderabad. Cost of training is borne by AAI. Subjects to be studied during training are Air Traffic Services Aerodromes and Ground Aids Air Legislation Meteorology Communication Procedures Technical Search and Rescue
Career Progression
Junior Executive (Joining)
Assistant manager (3 years)
Manager (3 years)
Senior manager (3 years)
Assistant General Manager (performance based)
Deputy General Manager (performance based)
Joint General Manager (performance based)
General Manager (performance based)
Executive Director ATM (performance based)
Member (ATM) in AAI Board (performance based)
Lifestyle
Air traffic controllers are among the highest paid across the globe. One can go to an ATC school and get the license which is acceptable in most countries. Indian ATC program is however only through AAI, and AAI or DGCA does not issue any license for it, hence making it impossible to switch to higher paying jobs abroad.
The pay and benefits however is very attractive as per Indian standards.
Pay
5 Years or longer Tenure
6 cities that are recognized under this category. These are – New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
2-3 Years long Tenure
Majority of the Indian airports other than the 6 mentioned above fall under this category
1 Year Short Tenure
There are also few such airports located at very remote or comparatively inaccessible locations like Agatti Airport in Lakshadweep Islands, or Leh Airport in Ladakh region of Kashmir.
Duty cycle
3-5 day duty cycle depending on station.
Shifts and Hours
Shifts are 6 hours long in morning and afternoon duties. Night shifts are 12 hours long. Midway, half of the controllers (1st team) go to sleep for about 4 hours in office dormitories. The controllers sleeping earlier, wake up and relieve the controllers who were working until morning when the shift ends. During duty, every controller works for 1 hour and gets relieved for 1 hour.
