Job Description

Air Traffic Controller

Responsible for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic control duties in a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Airport Traffic Control Tower.

Works under the general supervision of the tower manager who relies on the incumbent to perform established duties independently. On new or revised procedures, the manager gives detailed instructions and observes and checks work, during or immediately after completion, according to the complexity of the task until satisfied the incumbent can perform it independently.

Making decisions involving:

• The order of departures will ensure all aircraft equitable treatment and will ensure that departing Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flights operate at the fixed altitude, and the time designated by the center or approach control clearances.
• The times and direction of takeoff and any turn necessary after departure.
• Whether inbound aircraft is to land immediately or circle and whether distances are lengthened to control the arrival of an aircraft at a given point.
• The active runway and possible simultaneous use of other runways.
• The time and methods by which arrivals and departures can be interspersed with the least delay to traffic.
• When landing and departing aircraft are cleared to use the runways to assure standard separation between aircraft on the runways.
• The sequence of arriving traffic, before it enters the traffic pattern, to assure a safe, orderly flow of aircraft on the final approach to the landing runway.
• Endure that Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) separation standards are applied, as delegated by approach control or the center, in limited areas around the airport to provide initial separation between IFR arrivals and IFR departures and between successive IFR departures.
• The sequence of Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) traffic, and when delegated, using radar equipment to provide initial separation for arrival verse arrival and arrival verse departure IFR traffic.
• When Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flights through the Class D airspace can be authorized.

Determines the usability of communications frequencies and other navigational aids used to control air traffic. Monitors navigational aids and control panels, including tower radar display to determine the acceptability of its alignment and display presentation. Instructs pilots to change radio frequencies/transponder codes.

• When appropriate, coordinate with other controllers on the movement of both arrival and departure aircraft.
• When traffic conditions warrant, controllers in non-approach terminals are responsible for:
• Preplanning traffic sequencing and separation over an area, which may reach out to a radius of 5 miles or more.
• Preplanning and setting up checkpoints required to ensure the maintenance of necessary traffic separation.
• Maintaining a continuous mental picture and evaluation of constantly changing traffic, frequency dispersed throughout his/her area of jurisdictional responsibility.
• Maintaining continuous radio watch with aircraft that have previously contacted the facility.

Managing Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) TRAFFIC FOR AIRPORT:

• Studies weather reports and forecasts, obtain LAWRS/SAWRS weather certification, observes weather from the tower, and records pilot reports to determine the effect of present and anticipated weather on traffic; furnishes aircraft with information such as field conditions, altimeter settings, weather conditions, operating status of navigational aids, and observed malfunctioning of aircraft; forwards to the weather bureau, AFSS, and the appropriate center/approach control, pilot weather reports and reports based upon personal observation of weather conditions; operate light guns, runway lights, field lighting, jet barriers, etc.
• Orients pilots of aircraft lost or in difficulty; determines whether a given situation may develop into an emergency; and notifies airlines operations offices, airport management offices, and airport rescue and firefighting services.
• Performs lower grade level duties as necessary to meet operational requirements and for proficiency maintenance.
• Provides On-the-job (OJT) training to others.

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