Air Traffic Controllers

• Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.
• Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.
• Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations.
• Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties.
• Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety.
• Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land.
• 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.
• Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information.
• Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement.
• Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes.
• Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft.
• Provide on-the-job training to new air traffic controllers.
• Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes.
• Relay air traffic information, such as courses, altitudes, or expected arrival times, to control centers.
• Inspect, adjust, or control radio equipment or airport lights.
• Compile information about flights from flight plans, pilot reports, radar, or observations.
• Organize flight plans or traffic management plans to prepare for planes about to enter assigned airspace.
• Review records or reports for clarity and completeness and maintain records or reports as required under federal law.
• Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages from aircraft.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Air Traffic Controllers.

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Air Traffic Controllers.