Perspectives of Unsuccessful Air Traffic Control Specialists

Approximately one-quarter of air traffic controller trainees fail field training at their first facility assignment. In some cases, those who fail the training qualifications at their first air traffic control facility assignment are allowed to transfer to a less complex facility. We surveyed a sample of these controllers to identify their perceptions of work-related and external factors that contributed to their failure and subsequent request for reassignment. For example, although these controllers were selected to work at their first facility, in part, based on their aptitude for the job, some said they simply could not do the work at the level that was required. Others indicated that factors such as facility culture or training methods used by on-the-job training instructors might have contributed to their failure. This research is a first step in understanding why controllers fail training