Air Traffic Controller
Remotely monitors and directs aircraft movements to keep flights safe and minimise delay.
Overview
Air Traffic Controller is in charge of remotely monitoring and directing the movements of aircrafts to ensure their safety and also minimize delay.
Where they work
- Air traffic control centres
- Control towers
Work environment
You will usually work around 8 hours a shift, spread out over days, nights, weekends and public holidays. Air traffic control has to be manned 24 hours a day, so shift work is used to ensure there is always someone there.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have strong communication skills
- You like working in a team
- You like to pay attention to details
- You like Science and Maths
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
- 1Complete 10+2 in Science stream.
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree in Engineering (especially Computer Science, Telecommunication, Electrical, Electronic, or Radio Engineering).
- 3To become an Air Traffic Controller in India, you must qualify Civil ATC Test, which is administered by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Forms, exams and applications
The card names a Civil ATC Test as the entry route. Air traffic controller recruitment rules and the conducting body change — check the current official recruitment notification before relying on this.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Aeronautical or Aerospace Engineering. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal
- National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
- Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, Karnataka
- Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, Punjab
- Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Trainee
- 2Assistant Air Traffic Controller
- 3Air Traffic Controller
- 4Air Traffic Controller Specialist
Expected income
₹20,000 – ₹60,000 per month depending on experience
These figures are taken from NCS and are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Aircraft Pilot
Qualified to fly aircraft in civil aviation or the Indian Defence Forces.
Aeronautical Engineer
Designs, develops and builds safe, fuel-efficient aircraft, satellites, missiles and spacecraft.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science, Maths.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to analysing.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Shyamli Haldar — Became the first woman Air Traffic Controller in the country to head the ATC at Kolkata in 2020. Haldar belongs to the first batch of nine women traffic controllers recruited three decades ago, in 1989. She trained at the Civil Aviation Training College in Allahabad, after which she was posted in Kolkata in 1991. She and her batchmate, Aryama Sanyal, were the only women Air Traffic Controllers then.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 697 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.ncs.gov.in/content-repository/Pages/ViewNcoDetails.aspx?NCSCode=3154.0100
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Three corrections to the printed card: the work-environment line says "around 8 hours a week", which must mean per shift given the 24-hour rota it goes on to describe; Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, a government institute, is printed under private; and the private list's "Birla Institute of Technology, Vellore" and "Hind Institute of Technology and Science" are shown as the Vellore Institute of Technology and the Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.