Skills
Air Traffic Controller Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in air traffic controllers, and how to build and show them.
What skills do air traffic controllers need?
Air Traffic Controllers need technical skills such as aircraft separation standards, radio phraseology, and radar operation, plus people skills like decisiveness and concentration. They also use tools such as Radar displays and Radios and headsets.
Technical (hard) skills
- Aircraft separation standards
- Radio phraseology
- Radar operation
- Airspace and procedures
- Weather interpretation
- Multitasking
People (soft) skills
- Decisiveness
- Concentration
- Calm under pressure
- Clear communication
Tools, equipment and technology
- Radar displays
- Radios and headsets
- Flight strips or electronic flight data
- Weather displays
- Binoculars in towers
- Automation systems
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how air traffic controllers put their skills to work:
- How to issue a takeoff clearance
- How to handle an aircraft emergency
- How to conduct a position relief briefing
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Aircraft separation standards” and “Radio phraseology.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “decisiveness,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist certification near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our air traffic controller glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Air Traffic Controller training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.