Air traffic controller
| Highest | $7,350 / mo · United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|
| Experience | 2–4 yrs |
| Degree | Required |
| First paycheck | 4 years bachelor's degree + internal simulator and operational training |
Pay in the destination countries
Monthly, in US dollars. Each country is an Imora admission package — open one for that route's fees, language requirement and deadline.
| Country | Monthly |
|---|---|
| United Arab EmiratesIELTS 5.5–6.5 · $10–25k | $7,350max |
| Saudi ArabiaIELTS 6.5 · 0 (grant) | $7,350 |
| QatarIELTS 7.0 (raqobatbardosh) · USD 74–87k (to’liq xarajat) | $7,350 |
| United StatesTOEFL 80–100 · $10–70k | $7,000 |
| SwitzerlandIELTS 6.5 · CHF 0.9–8k | $6,650 |
| Hong KongIELTS 6.0–6.5 · HK–200k | $6,150 |
What does the day look like?
Controllers work in one of three environments: Aerodrome Control (Tower / TWR), Terminal Approach Control (APP / TRACON), or an Area Control Center (ACC / En-route). You monitor traffic on ATM platforms like Indra InNOVA, ManageAir, Thales TopSky, Raytheon STARS, or Lockheed Martin ERAM. Voice communications run through systems like Frequentis on VHF/UHF push-to-talk channels and Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC). Radar tools include PSR/SSR, Mode S, ADS-B, Electronic Flight Strips, Short Term Conflict Alert (STCA), and METAR/TAF weather feeds.
Active console controlling takes 60 to 70 percent of a shift. Under ICAO and EASA safety standards, continuous work at an active screen is capped at 90 to 120 minutes, followed by a mandatory 30 to 45 minute break in a quiet room (making up 25 to 30 percent of the shift). Pre-shift briefings and handovers take 5 to 10 percent. Air traffic operates 24 hours a day, so rosters rotate across morning, afternoon, and night shifts, averaging 32 to 40 hours per week.
Where does this lead?
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