The Character It Takes to Succeed in Air Traffic Control

The following is adapted from The Terminal ATC Training Guide by Randolph Arslanian.

You progress by learning from everyone you meet. Let go of prejudices, because all people have something to offer. When you pay attention to the moment, being still and listening, you gain information from everyone and everything around you.

Once you receive that information, road-test it. Consider the source and investigate it for accuracy. If it aligns with your knowledge base and fits your ability, apply it. If it proves practical and effective, keep using it.

Let go of ego, too. It is only a human tool for gaining self-importance over others. Keep your mind open to an education with no upper limit. All of our journeys are open-ended, and learning should never stop. It's a magnificent ride.

At the same time, you must realize that neither computers nor other people will make your control decisions for you. The responsibility is yours alone. Emergency warning equipment may alert you to danger, but corrective action comes through the controller's transmissions to the pilots involved.

Build your aviation knowledge through the site-specific training you receive from the many controllers you encounter. Build your character by conquering the challenges in your assigned Terminal airspace. Anything can happen from one shift to the next, and only you determine how you perform second by second.

The way you maintain your workspace, how you mark and move your flight strips, how well you listen, how punctual you are, and how you treat others are all part of your value as an employee. These traits also set an example for your team and the students you train. You want the best people by your side when the traffic gets demanding.

As an instructor, I chose receptivity as the most important trait I looked for in anyone I trained. Receptivity to other techniques broadens a controller's outlook quickly. I saw this firsthand at two facilities that both received Tower of the Year awards. Their controllers worked together with mutual trust and a strong teamwork ethic.

Each of us faces doubts and frailties along the way, and there will be naysayers on your path. Seek solutions and release yourself from self-doubt. Knowledge of truth yields clarity. Clarity breeds confidence. Confidence eliminates hesitation. And eliminating hesitation increases work speed.

There is also a flaw within all of us: the desire for personal gain over the greater good of the group. It is the dissonance each individual must overcome. When individuals work toward the larger group's success, the team succeeds. We are all working toward the same result: national security and effective control of aviation within the NAS.

After completing my military service, I had an epiphany. I can change my mind in every way. Eliminate your flaws, self-imposed inadequacies, and prejudices, and you become part of a winning team. You aren't only learning to certify at a facility. You're learning to become an instructor who will carry this culture forward. Make up your mind!

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For more advice on building the character to succeed in air traffic control, you can find The Terminal ATC Training Guide on Amazon.

Randolph Arslanian is a former air traffic controller with extensive experience in ATC training. He completed his training in the US Air Force and has instructed at the Air Force, Santa Barbara Tower, Los Angeles Tower, and Boston Tower. Randolph developed new positions in Ground Control at the towers in Los Angeles and Boston. Among his many honors, he received a Letter of Commendation for his management of LAX during and after an aircraft collision in 1991, and an award for outstanding performance from BOS in 1998. Randolph’s name is inscribed on the National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.