Becoming an air traffic controller

NATS controllers work at fifteen of the UK’s major airports, as well as managing the busy airspace above the UK from our two control centres at Swanwick and Prestwick.

We train all of our controllers at our state-of-the-art training college in Whiteley, Hampshire.

From first applying through to becoming a fully licenced air traffic controller, training usually takes between three and four years. Early on in the training process, trainees are divided into Area Controllers or Aerodrome/Approach Controllers depending on their skills and our requirements, and for the rest of their training they specialise in one of these paths. Once controllers complete their training and become validated, they then begin working at one of our towers or control centres.

Laura Gibson trained with us and now works in Gatwick Airport – the busiest single runway airport in the world, which can move up to 900 aircraft per day. Watch her video to find out what it’s really like to train and work as an air traffic controller, and what she likes best about her job.