Questions about becoming an air traffic controller?

Question

I am currently a senior in high school and am interested in becoming an air traffic controller.  I had some questions about the process of doing so.  At the moment, my tentative plan to eventually become a controller is finish high school with high marks (~88% - 95% for my main courses) and then go to BCIT and get a diploma in Airport Operations.  While doing this, I will likely take get a pilot's license (not for commercial planes, but smaller ones) and training to strengthen my credentials and understanding of aviation.  After receiving my diploma, I will apply to Nav Canada's Air Traffic Controller program.

My questions were:

-Is the above plan a good one?
-Does being familiar with a flying and getting a diploma increase my chances of being accepted into Nav Canada's program (their website is a little vague about this but the BCIT course is not accredited to actually qualify me as any kind of trainer)?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

It cannot hurt to have familiarity with flying and airport operations, so it is a reasonable plan, but what will increase your chances the most is scoring highly on their aptitude test and having good interview skills. Presumably you've been to the Nav Canada website, but if you haven't, study this page carefully: http://atc.aviation.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=65

Dangermanmi6 · Answer

In Canada there are several levels of pay for ATC and that goes along with a speciality.

All controllers make a base pay regardless of which tower you are working in.  There is the operational facility pay that is based on aircraft movements so if you are at YYZ you will get the max OFP on top of your pay and say someone at YOW which has less movements will get less OFP.  I don't remember if the controllers at the ACC a) start at a level higher than the tower and b) get OFP

How is your vector math and following procedures?  You will need these skills.  I know a lot of controllers who are private pilots and getting a diploma in air ops can't hurt your chances.  More education is better but all you really need to be a controller is high school.  If you are accepted by Nav you will get trained by Nav instructors in one of the regions usually the one you live in.  

OK here is the BUT, I've seen a LOT of people wash out of the training or the pass the training and fail to check out on the boards.  Nav charges for the training, back when it was government the training was in Cornwall On and the government paid YOU to take the training and gave you 3 hot meals and a room to live in.

Good luck to you if this is a career choice you want.

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Questions about becoming an air traffic controller?

2 Answers