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Eligibilities being considered and other
IMPORTANT information.
The primary purpose of this position, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST (Terminal), GS-2152-10 is to provide visual flight rules (VFR) air traffic control services to aircraft operating in the vicinity of an airport or on the controlled movement area of the airfield, providing for the safe, orderly, and expeditious air traffic flow.
Learn more about this agency Duties Help
-Control military and civilian aircraft under visual flight rules (VFR) in a control tower environment.
-Observe and report airport advisories, critical weather information, and equipment outages.
-Provide basic and journeyman training for personnel to meet certification requirements for upgrade and qualification in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) career field.
-Upon obtaining position and facility certification, recurring training is required to maintain proficiency on current air traffic control requirements, and to ensure continued proficiency in each certified operating position.
Requirements Help
Conditions of employment - U.S. Citizenship Required
- Males must be registered for Selective Service, see
- Selectee is expected to be granted with and/or maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position.
- Disclosure of Political Appointments
- This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
- This position may require drug testing and the candidate may be subject to passing a drug test upon selection.
- May be required to work an uncommon tour of duty, i.e., Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. May be required to work rotating shifts and overtime.
- Must possess valid air traffic controller certification and obtain/maintain currency of the same.
- May be required to respond to short notice recall to support unscheduled emergency air traffic and/or contingencies/exercises to support the mission.
- Selectee may be required to serve a probationary or trial period.
- Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
- Relocation costs or other incentives may be available and considered by the organization.
- Must complete all training requirements within locally prescribed time limits to obtain and maintain a full facility rating in facility of assignment.
- The incumbent must have the ability to meet and maintain on a continuing basis, the physical, mental, and medical standards for ATC duties as specified by the OPM qualification standard for GS-2152.
- At least 5 years ATC tower controller experience is highly desired.
- At least 10 years of ATC experience and experience in the ATC career field within the last 3 years is highly desired.
- The position may require the employee to work under adverse environmental conditions.
- The incumbent must accomplish local limited weather observer certification requirements administered by base weather flight.
Qualifications Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Individual Occupation Requirements (IOR) for Air Traffic Control Series, 2152.
Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-09, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes issuing control instructions and advice to pilots in the vicinity of airports to assure proper separation of aircraft and to expedite their safe and efficient movement. This specialization also requires ability to act decisively under stressful situations and to maintain alertness over sustained periods of pressure; skill to coordinate plans and actions with pilots and other controllers; and judgment to select and take the safest and most effective course of action from among several available choices.
FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-10 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.
Due to the use of 120 day rosters, applicants within 120 days of completion of TIG requirements are encouraged to apply. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
- Knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations and procedures governing the movement of air traffic.
- Knowledge of Terminal Air Traffic Control (ATC) Procedures, including tower procedures.
- Knowledge of the functional/operational limitations of all ATC equipment, as well as approach lighting, airfield lighting, weather instructions, navigational aids (NAVAIDS), remote status indicators, arresting systems, landlines, and any other equipment pertaining to ATC services.
- Knowledge of weather phenomena and localized effects.
- Ability to make rapid and precise judgments in a real-time work situation, remain calm under conditions that are stressful, coordinate many different processes at once, and adjust rapidly to changes in the traffic pattern and tempo of work activity.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Key Position : This position has been designated as Key. In the event of a crisis, selectee must perform the Key duties until relieved. This position cannot be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization. Requires the incumbent be removed from military recall status.
MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE: The maximum age for original entry into an identified ATC position is 36 years. An individual shall NOT be appointed or assigned to an ATC position if that appointment cannot be completed prior to the last day of the month in which the individual reaches his/her 36th birthday. Applicants over the age limit must meet re-entry or age waiver requirements in accordance with DoDI 1400.25-V331 dated 26 Jan 15, Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Manual, Subchapter331, Civilian Air Traffic Controllers. Any individual who has reached the mandatory separation age (56) is NOT eligible for employment/reemployment as an ATC (5U.S.C. 3323(a) (reference (b)).
NOTE: ATCs have a mandatory separation age of 56. This position is covered as an Air Traffic Controller under 5 USC 2109. This position is subject to the special retirement provisions for Air Traffic Controllers under CSRS and FERS (5 USC 3382,Involuntary Separation for Retirement; 5 USC 8335(a) and 8425(a), Mandatory Separation; 5 USC 8336(e), Immediate Retirement; 5 USC 8339(3) and 8415(d),Computation of annuity, and 8412(e).
RE-ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: ATC Specialist in receipt of a refund, of retirement contributions for the years of service covered under special retirement, will not receive service credit towards the 20 years required to retire under special retirement coverage, unless the redeposit is paid in full prior to date of retirement.
REQUIREMENTS: Air traffic control specialists in all specializations must possess or obtain, within uniformly applicable time limits, the facility ratings required for full performance at the facility where the position is located. Applicants must possess or obtain a valid Air Traffic Control Specialist Certificate and/or Control Tower Operator Certificate, if appropriate.
Must possess or obtain a current FAA Class II Medical Certificate (FAA Form 8500-9). MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: In general, air traffic control specialist applicants and employees must have the capacity to perform the essential functions of these positions without risk to themselves or others. The provision of sufficient information about physical capacity for employment requires that before appointment, applicants undergo appropriate pre-employment physical/medical evaluations.
SPECIAL RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This position is covered as an Air Traffic Controller under 5 USC 2109. This position is subject to the special retirement provisions for Air Traffic Controllers under CSRS and FERS (5 USC 3382, Involuntary Separation for Retirement; 5 USC 8335(a) and 8425 (a), Mandatory Separation for Retirement; 5 USC 8336(e), Immediate Retirement; 5 USC 8339(3) and 8415(d), Computation of annuity, and 8412(e).
The physical requirements of this position as determined by the manager are: The incumbent of this position must have the ability to sit and/or stand for long periods of time while controlling aircraft in a Tower facility. The incumbent of this position may be required to climb several flights of stairs to reach the Control Tower Cab.
A PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL IS REQUIRED. -5 USC 5546a - DIFFERENTIAL PAY FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF THEFEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
(a)The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Administrator") and the Secretary of Defense (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Secretary") may pay premium pay at the rate of 5 percentum of the applicable rate of basic pay to-
(1)Any employee of the Federal Aviation Administration or the Department of Defense who is-
(2)Occupying a position in the air traffic controller series classified not lower than GS-9 and located in an air traffic control center or terminal or in a flight service station
Premium pay statement: this position may be entitled to 5% premium pay as authorized by 5USC 5546a (a)(1)
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN AMENDED TO CLOSE ON 2 JUN 2026. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.
Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.
120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.
Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.
Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.
If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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