Great Colleges for Air Traffic Control
Schools That Prepare Students for Directing Flights
Air traffic controllers are responsible for safe flight travel. They direct pilots on landing, taking off, and flying routes. Most of the time the controllers use a radar screen to monitor flight patterns.
To become an air traffic controller, one must first attend college for instructional education. After graduating, students then attend hand-on training at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) headquarters in Oklahoma. Demonstrating skills and passing required tests are necessary to become fully certified.
University of North Dakota
One of the most prestigious schools for air traffic control is the University of North Dakota (UND) John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Science. Students in their program will experience the most definitive education available for air traffic control. The school provides students with amazing technology to simulate real air traffic experiences. Included are 225 degree and 360 degree airport screens that allow students to be situated as in a real life video game.
The air traffic control program at UND is the most competitive. Prior to even being admitted students need to demonstrate the following: Private Pilot Part 141 certification, a full year of Foreign Language, and a second field of study. Once in the program students will be exposed to multiple courses in radar operations, tower operations, communication classes, and physic courses.
Embry-Riddle's Aeronautical University in Dayton Beach, Florida
Another outstanding air traffic control program is at Embry-Riddle. The school also provides students with stimulation labs for continued skill application. Such simulators include tower simulators,a replica of Dayton Beach's airport; terminal radar approach control laboratory, air route traffic control center laboratory, Air Traffic Management Research Laboratory, and Meteorology Laboratories.
Unlike UND, Embry-Riddle provides a four year program in air traffic control. Students can start immediately in the program, which requires air traffic management, tower control, communications, safety, sciences, and math.
The University of Alaska Anchorage
The University of Alaska's air traffic control program is unique in that the school provides three different routes to a degree: 18 month, two year, and four year programs. The 18 month and two year program are the same; however, students who start in the summer can will finish sooner due to the sequencing of courses. The four year program at the University of Alaska allows student to gain further knowledge in air traffic control to be able to teach and monitor new trainees.
Additional Colleges for Air Traffic Control
While this article outlined three colleges for air traffic control, a handful more exist. In fact the United States offers less than 20 colleges that offer the degree. Additional colleges include Arizona State University Polytechnic, Middle Georgia College, Lewis University, and Hampton University.
A career in air traffic control may be difficult to obtain. A limited number of colleges offer the major and limit the number of students who can enroll in their programs. Programs are rigorous and require students to consistently demonstrate their skills through application and testing. The colleges listed in this article represent a sample of the colleges that can assist students to be successful in the career of air traffic control. For more information on colleges that offer air traffic control degrees, please read the article College Searches on the Internet.
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