Air traffic controllers and related

NOC

72601

- Air traffic controllers and related occupations

authorize and direct air traffic within assigned airspace, control moving aircraft and service vehicles at airports, and provide pilots with flight information needed for aviation safety.

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Full NOC Description

Air traffic controllers direct air traffic within assigned airspace, and control moving aircraft and service vehicles at airports. Flight service specialists provide pilots with flight information essential to aviation safety. Flight dispatchers authorize airline flights over assigned routes. Air traffic controllers and flight service specialists are employed by NAV Canada and the Canadian Forces. Flight dispatchers are employed by airline and air services companies and by the Canadian Forces.

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Air traffic controllers

Control flow of air traffic within assigned airspace using radar monitors, radio and other communication equipment and visual references

Issue aircraft takeoff and landing instructions to pilots and relay meteorological, navigational and other information to pilots in flight

Maintain radio and telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units and other area control centres, and coordinate movement of aircraft into adjoining areas

Alert airport emergency services when aircraft are experiencing difficulties and report missing aircraft to search and rescue services

Direct activities of all moving aircraft and service vehicles on or near airport runways.

Flight service specialists

Provide pre-flight information concerning current and forecast weather conditions, radio frequencies, terrain, airports and related data to assist pilots in preparation of flight plans

Check flight plans for completeness and accuracy and forward flight plans to air traffic services facility

Respond to radio calls from aircraft preparing for takeoff or landing and supply information such as weather conditions, wind speed and direction and presence of local air traffic

Support air traffic control operations by relaying radio requests for flight clearances, arrival and departure information and position reports

Alert airport emergency services of aircraft experiencing difficulties and initiate communication searches when aircraft become overdue

Observe, record and report weather conditions at airports.

Flight dispatchers

Analyze environmental conditions and assess aircraft for load and fuel capacity and other factors to determine flight routes

Brief flight crew before takeoff on weather conditions, status of navigational facilities and airports while on route

Co-sign flight authorization with aircraft captain

Monitor progress of flight and communicate as required with aircraft during flight

Delay or cancel flights if conditions warrant

Prepare and maintain flight plans, flight logs and other reports.

Also Known As

air traffic controller (ATC)
airport air traffic controller
enroute air traffic controller
flight dispatcher
flight service specialist (FSS)

instrument flight rules air traffic controller

terminal air traffic controller

visual flight rules air traffic controller

Requirements

Employment Requirements

Completion of secondary school is required.

A basic radio telephone operator's licence is required.

Air traffic controllers and flight service specialists require completion of a NAV Canada training program which includes structured in-class and on-the-job training.

Air traffic controllers require an air traffic controller's licence.

Flight dispatchers may require experience in air traffic control or flight operations and may require a private pilot's licence.

Provincial Regulation

Not Provincially Regulated

Employment by Sex

The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

Data legend

13.3%

Female

86.7%

Male

Employment by age

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

Data legend

0.0%

15-24

13.8%

25-34

41.4%

35-44

44.8%

45-54

0.0%

55-64

0.0%

65+

Employment by highest level of education

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

Data legend

0.0%

No Certificate, Diploma or Degree

20.7%

High School, Diploma or Equivalent

0.0%

Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma

0.0%

College or University Below Bachelor Level

31.0%

University - Bachelor Level or Above

Employment by Industry

The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

Data legend

96.6%

Transportation and warehousing

N/A

3.4%

All Other Industries

Employment by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

Data legend

N/A

Northeast

86.20%

Southeast

N/A

Southwest

N/A

Central

N/A

Northwest

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Data legend

N/A

Northeast

$192,000

Southeast

N/A

Southwest

N/A

Central

N/A

Northwest

Economic Regions

Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Salary

The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

Employment Outlook

The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

Occupational Profiles