When great feats of engineering are mentioned, aeroplanes often sit at the top of the list. There is no denying that air travel revolutionised the world and, since its inception at the dawn of the 20th century, it’s come a long way. From the Boeing 747 to the Spitfire, these majestic metal beasts play a part in industries and defence sectors across the globe.
Though the pilots themselves may be the first that spring to mind when you think of flying, there are a great number of individuals involved, without whom the skies would be unsafe for navigation. Among these are air traffic controllers. Their job involves the safe coordination and communication of aircraft throughout a journey.
Of course, when it comes to a high-stakes job such as air traffic control, learning as you go just isn’t an option. Fully qualified air traffic controllers must undergo rigorous training and examinations before taking on the role full-time. But how exactly does this happen?
Below, we’ll outline the basic process involved in becoming a qualified air traffic controller.