Air Traffic Control Specialist

Air Traffic Control Tower

Responsible for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic control duties in a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Air Traffic Control Tower.

Works under the general supervision of the Tower Manager who relies on the incumbent to perform established duties independently. On new or revised procedures, the manager gives detailed instructions and observes, and checks work during or immediately after completion according to complexity of the task or until satisfied the incumbent can perform it independently.

Makes decisions involving:

• The order of departures that will assure all aircraft equitable treatment and will assure that departing IFR flights operate at the fix, altitude, and the time designated by the center or approach control clearances.
• The times and direction of takeoff and any turns necessary for departure.
• Whether inbound aircraft are to land immediately or circle and whether distances are lengthened to control the arrival of an aircraft at a given point.
• The active runway and possible simultaneous use of other runways.
• The time and methods by which arrivals and departures can be interspersed with the least delay to traffic.
• When landing and departing aircraft are cleared to use the runways to assure standard separation between aircraft on the runways.
• The sequence of arriving traffic, before it enters the traffic pattern, to assure a safe, orderly flow of aircraft on final approach to the landing runway.
• That IFR separation standards are applied, as delegated by approach control of the center, in limited areas around the airport to provide initial separation between IFR arrivals and IFR departures and between successive IFR departures.
• The sequence of VFR and IFR traffic, using radar equipment as an aid and, when delegated, separating IFR traffic.
• When VFR flights through the airport traffic area can be authorized.

Determines the usability of communications frequencies available to him/her as other navigational aids used to control air traffic. Monitors navigational aids and monitors control panels, including BRITE display to determine acceptability of its alignment and display presentation. Instructs pilots to change radio frequencies/radar beacon codes.

When appropriate, coordinates with the other controllers on movements of both arrival and departure aircraft.

When traffic conditions warrant, controllers in non-approach terminals are responsible for:

• Preplanning traffic sequencing and separation over an area which may reach out to a radius of 5 miles or more.
• Preplanning and setting up check points required to ensure the maintenance of necessary traffic separation.
• Maintaining a continuous mental picture and evaluation of a constantly changing traffic complex frequency dispersed over an equivalent geographic area.
• Maintaining continuous radio watch with aircraft which have previously contacted the facility.
• Accepting responsibility to handle IFR traffic at his/her airport.

Studies weather bureau reports and forecasts, obtains LAWRS/SAWRS weather certification, observes weather from the tower and records pilot reports to determine the effect of present and anticipated weather on traffic; furnishes aircraft with information such as field conditions, altimeter settings, weather conditions, operating status of navigational aids, and observed malfunctioning of aircraft, forwards to the weather bureau and the appropriate center, pilot weather reports and reports based upon personal observation of weather conditions; operates light guns, runway lights, field lighting, jet barriers etc.

Orients pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may operations offices, airport management offices, and fire and ambulance services.

Performs lower grade level duties as necessary to meet operational requirements and for proficiency maintenance.

Provides OJT training to others.

Individual must have a CTO Certificate and a current Class II Medical Certificate. Position is subject to drug and/or alcohol testing per the DOT/FAA requirements (pre-employment, random, reasonable cause/suspicion, post-accident). Individual must have held a Control Tower Operator Certificate (CTO) with a facility rating or have held an FAA Credential with a tower rating, for a minimum of six months in an Air Traffic Control Tower.