The rigorous path to becoming an air traffic controller
This expert is irreplaceable in terms of safety and effectiveness in air travel across the country. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exercises a multi-phased selection process for finding the right individuals for the job of air traffic controller, using strict measures to find people for this position.
Eligibility criteria
Following are some of the major eligibility requirements to become an air traffic controller:
- Age limit: Applicants should be below 31 years old at the time of application.
- Citizenship: Candidates have to be US citizens.
- Education: Three years of relevant experience in responsible positions, bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of experience and education.
- Medical and security clearances: All candidates must be medically fit for the job and cleared from the security point of view.
Application and assessment
The FAA accepts applications from those who want to become air traffic controllers periodically. At the time of openings, applicants will apply through USAJOBS. Applicants, after the application process, are invited to take what is known as the Air Traffic Skills Assessment Test – (AT-SA)- an aptitude test used to assess applicants aptitude and potential for the intense job of air traffic control.
Training at the FAA academy
The selected candidates are then enrolled in the FAA Academy, Oklahoma City. This academy trains them with a detailed theoretical and practical knowledge concerning the air traffic control operation. The course of study has been so designed as to keep in mind the high-pressure atmosphere that they will have to face in the field.
On-the-job training and certification
It follows that on successful graduation from the FAA Academy, assignment will be made to various air traffic control facilities around the country. In this stage, on-site training with certified controllers begins. The experience-building phase is an essential one and will take some time. They now become full-fledged qualified air traffic controllers.
President Trump critique of DEI policies
During a recent news conference, the president attacked FAA’s DEI initiatives, saying that such policies compromised standards of safety. “Brilliant people have to be in those positions,” he said, hammering on the idea that merit must be the standard for hiring.
The President went further to say that the FAA, under previous administrations, had affirmatively recruited people with profound intellectual disabilities and psychiatric problems as part of their DEI initiatives. He said such practice could compromise aviation safety.
Fact-checking
The views expressed herein regarding the FAA hiring policies prove quite clearly that any candidate irrespective of his or her background has had to face some very high qualifying standards. There is, quite frankly, no evidence within the data that DEI has compromised on safety by hiring individuals who would be unable to work for the required tenure. According to Chai Feldblum, former commissioner at the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there can be little debate: “You only hire a person with a disability to do a job for which they’re qualified.”.
Moreover, diversity at the FAA seeks an inclusive workforce without any compromise on the already high standards that ensure the proficiency of the personnel in safety-critical positions. The policy ensures that all selected individuals are fully qualified to perform their duties with competency.
