How to become an air traffic controller in Australia: Airservices guide
Eligibility, online tests, the assessment centre and training in Melbourne. How to become an air traffic controller with Airservices Australia.
The short answer
Airservices Australia trains most civil controllers. You need to be 18 or over, an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident, have a Year 12 certificate or a diploma, and be able to hold an aviation security card (ASIC). Selection is online tests and a one-day assessment centre. Training is about 12 months in Melbourne, then on-the-job training.
Airservices Australia provides air traffic control across Australian airspace and trains its own controllers. Here’s the trainee route, based on Airservices’ published information.
Can you apply?
You need to:
- Be at least 18.
- Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or an Australian permanent resident.
- Have a Senior Secondary Certificate (Year 12) or equivalent, or a tertiary qualification at diploma level or higher.
- Be able to hold an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC), which includes a background check, and pass the medical.
No aviation experience needed.
Selection
- Online application. Have your documents ready when you submit.
- Online ability tests, done at home: verbal reasoning, inductive reasoning, numerical calculations, a checking test and a spatial test. More online tests may follow.
- Assessment centre: one day in a capital city, at your own cost. More cognitive and technical tests, and possibly behavioural assessments and a group exercise.
- Reference checks, then medical and security checks.
- Offer to start ATC training.
The process takes months, so apply early and keep an eye on the careers page. A taste of the test style: our 10 practice questions.
Training
Training happens face to face at Airservices’ facilities in Melbourne: theory plus simulator practice. It takes about 12 months, then on-the-job training at your unit. Location and stream (tower or en-route) preferences are considered but not guaranteed.
Pay
Trainees are paid during training. Airservices doesn’t publish a single figure on its careers page, so check the current job advertisement for the pay and conditions on offer.
Already a controller?
Airservices also hires experienced controllers, who do a shorter conversion course of about 6 to 12 weeks in Melbourne. Rules on recent experience apply.