The primary function of the Air Traffic Control Specialist is to provide pilots with a variety of information and assistance necessary for planning and conducting a safe flight. Receives and transmits flight plans, meteorological, navigational, and other information in air traffic control station to perform preflight and emergency service for airplane pilots, accepts flight plans from pilots in person or by telephone and reviews them for completeness.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Routes planes for operating under instrument flight rules to control center and for operating under visual flight rules to station in vicinity of destination airport. Uses radio, teletype, radiotelephone, radiotelegraph, telephone, or interphone, and provides meteorological, navigational, and other information to pilots during flight, using radio.

• Relays traffic control and other instructions concerned with aircraft safety to pilots, radios such information as airfield surface conditions, operational status of airfield navigational aids, (NAVAIDs), Relays traffic control and other instructions concerned with aircraft safety to pilots, radios such information as identifying landmarks, beacons and available landing fields to pilots in flight, maintains file of plans for operating under visual flight rules until completion of flight, and contacts facilities along route of flight to secure information on overdue aircraft.

• Reports lost aircraft to control center for rescue or local emergency services, monitors such radio aids to navigation as range stations, fan markers and voice communication facilities, and notifies air personnel of availability of these facilities, and maintains written records of messages transmitted and received.

• Brief pilots on weather conditions occurring or expected to occur along their intended route of flight and at destination airport. 

• Assist pilots in planning route of flight, in making flight computations, filing flight plans, and obtaining proper clearance to fly in controlled airspaces.

•  Responsible for developing, disseminating and monitoring the currency of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) providing information on significant aeronautical conditions.

Minimum Position Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• High School diploma or equivalent and completion of an accredited military or FAA Airfield Management/Flight Service school or program.

• Possess one to three (3) years’ experience in an airport management field at a civilian or military Flight Service installation.

• Possess knowledge of Air Force, DoD and FAA flight directives.

• Detailed knowledge of the procedures related to flight handling, routing, airways and airspace structures, and the relationship and coordination required between flight service and other components of the air traffic system.

• General knowledge of the performance characteristics of a wide variety of aircraft, particularly with respect to the effect of weather on safe operation of the aircraft.

• Skill in communicating effectively with pilots of all levels of experience in a variety of situations.

• Ability to coordinate actions with other specialists and related air traffic facilities.

• Must have working knowledge of computerized electronic radar display systems, communications systems, and civilian and military aircraft operational characteristics.

• Position requires the ability to qualify for and maintain a US Government Top Secret security clearance. Note: US citizenship is required to obtain a US Government security clearance.

• Possess a valid state issued driver’s license.

• Position may require routine travel, occasional overnight stays and shift work assignments.

Work Environment, Physical Demands, and Mental Demands:

Typical airfield station or terminal office environment with no unusual hazards, occasional lifting to 20 pounds. Constant sitting while using the computer terminal, ability to discern all colors of the spectrum (must not be color-blind), constant use of sight abilities while reviewing documents, constant use of speech/hearing abilities for communication, constant mental alertness, must possess planning/organizing skills, and must be able to work under deadlines.