Most people think the journey to becoming an air traffic controller is all about getting through the FAA Academy.

But the truth is, there are multiple levels of growth in an ATC career — and each level brings new pressure, new expectations, and new opportunities to improve.

In this episode, I introduce “The Four Levels of Air Traffic Control”:

• Pre-Academy Preparation,
• The Academy,
• First Facility Training,
• Becoming a CPC while helping train others.

I also connect these levels back to the “6 Drivers of ATC Success” and discuss how Purpose, Plan, Phraseology, Practice, Picture, and Performance continue to repeat throughout a controller’s career.

Whether you are waiting for a class date, currently at the Academy, or working through facility training, this episode will ...