Description
Manage and control aircraft in terminal airspace and on the airport surface to ensure safe, orderly, and expeditious arrivals, departures, and taxi operations. Use radar and visual procedures to sequence traffic, issue clearances, and coordinate with adjacent facilities in accordance with FAA regulations and local SOPs.
- • Issue takeoff and landing clearances and instructions.
- • Sequence and separate arrivals and departures within terminal airspace.
- • Provide radar vectors, headings, speeds, and altitudes to IFR/VFR aircraft.
- • Monitor terminal radar and visual traffic to maintain required separation.
- • Assign runways and instrument procedures (SIDs, STARs, approaches).
- • Advise pilots of traffic, wake turbulence, runway conditions, wind shear, and other hazards.
- • Issue go-around or missed-approach instructions when needed.
- • Direct ground movements, including taxi routes, pushbacks, and runway crossings.
- • Coordinate handoffs and point-outs with adjacent towers, TRACONs, and en route centers.
- • Apply flow management and spacing programs during demand surges or weather impacts.
- • Provide reroutes, holding, or diversions during adverse weather or emergencies.
- • Alert and coordinate with airport emergency services for aircraft in distress.
- • Initiate or assist in searches for overdue or missing aircraft.
- • Approve or deny pilot requests for altitude, speed, or route changes.
- • Maintain continuous radio and telephone coordination to ensure traffic continuity.
- • Operate or adjust runway and approach lighting as required.
- • Relay ATIS, NOTAMs, runway status, and braking action reports to pilots.
- • Compile and update flight progress strips and electronic flight plan data.
- • Issue pre-departure clearances and release times.
- • Review and maintain operational logs, records, and required reports.
- • Provide on-the-job training and participate in proficiency and simulation training.
- • Enforce local noise abatement, wake turbulence, and runway occupancy procedures.
- • Determine timing for vectoring, sequencing, and runway configuration changes.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Supply Chain & Transportation
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
