According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems. | 97% |
| Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions. | 96% |
| Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights. | 96% |
| Provide flight path changes or directions to emergency landing fields for pilots traveling in bad weather or in emergency situations. | 96% |
| Alert airport emergency services in cases of emergency or when aircraft are experiencing difficulties. | 95% |
| Monitor or direct the movement of aircraft within an assigned air space or on the ground at airports to minimize delays and maximize safety. | 95% |
| Direct pilots to runways when space is available or direct them to maintain a traffic pattern until there is space for them to land. | 95% |
| Monitor aircraft within a specific airspace, using radar, computer equipment, or visual references. | 94% |
| Direct ground traffic, including taxiing aircraft, maintenance or baggage vehicles, or airport workers. | 94% |
| Contact pilots by radio to provide meteorological, navigational, or other information. | 92% |
| Maintain radio or telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units, or other area control centers to coordinate aircraft movement. | 91% |
| Determine the timing or procedures for flight vector changes. | 90% |
| Initiate or coordinate searches for missing aircraft. | 89% |
| Provide on-the-job training to new air traffic controllers. | 89% |
| Check conditions and traffic at different altitudes in response to pilots' requests for altitude changes. | 87% |
| Relay air traffic information, such as courses, altitudes, or expected arrival times, to control centers. | 87% |
| Inspect, adjust, or control radio equipment or airport lights. | 85% |
| Compile information about flights from flight plans, pilot reports, radar, or observations. | 85% |
| Organize flight plans or traffic management plans to prepare for planes about to enter assigned airspace. | 84% |
| Conduct pre-flight briefings on weather conditions, suggested routes, altitudes, indications of turbulence, or other flight safety information. | 84% |
| Analyze factors such as weather reports, fuel requirements, or maps to determine air routes. | 81% |
| Review records or reports for clarity and completeness and maintain records or reports, as required under federal law. | 76% |
| Complete daily activity reports and keep records of messages from aircraft. | 71% |
