Want to get a feel for what it’s like to work at some of the busiest, most stressful ATC towers in the country and around the world? In this post, ATCTrainer.com has compiled our editor’s best video picks that show you what it’s really like to strap on the headset and command air traffic in both domestic and international locations.

So do you think you’ve got what it takes work at one of these locations? Watch each video below to find out.

Video #1: An inside look at the air traffic control tower at McCarran International Airport located in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Video #2: Islamabad ATC Tower

Description: While most air traffic controllers will be employed and remain within the United States there are opportunities to live abroad as either a contractor or as a controller for the military. This video gives you a snapshot into what it’s like directing traffic abroad in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Video #3: Dublin ATC Tower

Description: Sticking with the international flavor of this post this video shows what you can expect to see when you’re working at the control tower in Dublin.

Video #4: JFK ATC Tower

Description: This video shows just how complex directing traffic can become at a larger international airport like JFK. In this audio recording, you hear the JFK air traffic controller repeatedly instruct a pilot to change his course to ensure he doesn’t land on an air strip going the wrong direction.

Video #5: Heathrow ATC Tower

In this post, we’ve featured some of the busiest airports around the world. So do you still think you’ve got what it takes to be a controller at one of these featured towers?

Contact Details:

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Campus
3700 Willow Creek Road
Prescott, AZ 86301

Phone: (800) 888-3728 or 928-777-6600
Website: prescott.erau.edu
Degree: 4 Year
Estimated Tuition: $14,624 per semester
Room and Board: $4,395 per semester

Description of School: Top aviation and aerospace university in the nation with the most advance training fleet in collegiate aviation. Hands-on experience in the ATC and Airway Science labs give students real-life training. The Prescott Campus is less than 2 hours from the Phoenix metropolitan area and within a day’s drive of destinations including Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The campus is located a short distance from Ernest A. Love Field, the municipal airport. Prescott’s climate offers exceptional year-round flying conditions and caters to an active, outdoor lifestyle.

Description of Town: We call Prescott “Everybody’s Hometown” because most people find something here that reminds them of where they grew up. To many, it is the historic County Courthouse, tree-lined plaza and surrounding shops in the downtown area. To others, it is the overall small-town charm and hospitality. People are friendly here, and you’ll notice it no matter where you are in our community.

*Information provided on this page is subject to change and may be inaccurate. Contact a Embry-Riddle University, Prescott Campus representative for updated information.

Contact Details:

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
86-01 Twenty-third Ave.
Flushing, NY 11369

Phone: (718) 429-6600
Website: http://www.vaughn.edu/
Degree: 2 / 4 Year
Estimated Tuition: $8,550 per semester
Room and Board: $5,000 per semester

Description of School: Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology is a unique school in that it offers two and four year education paths. One advantage to attending this school is its deep aviation culture. Not only can you can get an an air traffic controller, but job training for other industry related careers are also available for aircraft operations, aviation maintenance, airport management and of course for being a pilot.

This school is part of the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI), which means your resume with the FAA will get preference over other applicants that apply. The CTI program is not a degree program, however, a college degree can be obtained when CTI training along with more traditional college classes.

Description of Town: Flushing, NY, is located right next door to Queens and a relatively short distance to New York City as well. In short, it’s a pretty happening location with plenty of urban entertainment and dining options if you’re into that sort of thing.

The total population of Flushing is about 215,000 people. As you might imagine it is a densely populated location being so close to Queens and New York City. It’s also a higher income / more affluent area, which will translate into generally higher living expenses for you as a student.

If you’re looking for a unique opportunity to be trained as an air traffic controller and live in a hip, suburban environment on the East Coast this college might be the right choice for you.

*Information provided on this page is subject to change and may be inaccurate. Contact a Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology representative for updated information.

Contact Details:

University of Alaska-Anchorage
Division of Aviation Technology
2811 Merrill Field Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone: (907) 786-7212
Website: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/
Degree: 4 Year
Estimated Tuition: $2,244 (resident) per semester, $6,504 (non-resident) per semester
Rent: $600 – $2,000 per month

Description of School: The University of Alaska-Anchorage is an AT-CTI certified school that can get you prepared for a career in air traffic control. This university has solid enrollment numbers of about 16,500 students, split across four separate campuses.

One advantage to attending the University of Alaska-Anchorage is the strong aviation culture that exists in the school. In addition to ATC students, there are future pilots, aviation maintenance, and airport management majors enrolled. This is an advantage since you’ll be exposed to people entering different careers within the aviation industry and get a better understanding how their roles will affect your future job.

Description of Town: As you may have already guessed, the University of Alaska is located in Anchorage, the state’s most populated city. If you’ve never been to Anchorage before, it’s nearby extreme changes of geography that are both awe inspiring and unique to the “The Last Frontier” as Alaska is appropriately nicknamed.

From the city you’ll be able nearby an awe inspiring bay and within site of mountainous terrain. Also at night, you can often see the Aurora Boreas, which is a symphony of light that brightens the night skies of Alaska.

When you first get to Anchorage (or Alaska in general) you might be referred to as a cheechako by the locals. This is a Native American phrase that simply means you’re new the the area. Take no offense to this phrase as it is not intended to be offensive.

Overall, the landscape and culture of Alaska is truly unique. If you want to get an very rough idea of the culture and geography of the area, I recommend checking out the hit reality TV series Sarah Palin’s Alaska. There are a lot of shots of the local scenery in this program. However, I advise putting the show on mute to prevent loss of brain cells.

*Information provided on this page is subject to change and may be inaccurate. Contact a University of Alaska-Anchorage representative for updated information.

Contact Details:

University of Oklahoma
1700 Lexington, Rm. 210
Norman, OK 73069

Phone: (405) 325-3586
Website: http://www.ou.edu/web.html
Degree: 4 Year
Estimated Tuition: $3,927 (resident) per semester, $9,142 (non-resident) per semester
Room and Board: $3,912 per semester

Description of School: The University of Oklahoma is an AT-CTI school located in Norman, OK, only 20 miles south of Oklahoma City. You’ll (hopefully) be headed to the FAA Academy shortly after graduation so you won’t have to travel far to complete your training if you decide to attend this university.

The University of Oklahoma is a big school with a total enrollment of over 30,000 students in 2010. The school also boasts one of the best Division I athletic programs with the Sooners.

Overall, if you want to attend a school where you can attend a big-time college football game, paint your body in school colors, enjoy an over indulgence in adult beverages, and get a career in air traffic control at the end of it the University of Oklahoma might be the right place for you.

Description of Town: The city of Norman, OK, has a total population of about 100,000 residents. It is a true “college town” during the Fall and Spring semester when their is an enormous influx of college students that enter the community.

As mentioned previously, Norman is a short 20 minute drive from the state’s capital of Oklahoma City. The weather is cool in the winter with temperatures falling to 36 F on average during the month of January. Summers are typically quite hot with average temperatures in July hovering around 80 F degrees.

Attractions in and around the city include movie theaters, shopping centers, restaurants, and numerous college bars.

*Information provided on this page is subject to change and may be inaccurate. Contact a University of Oklahoma representative for updated information.

Contact Details:

Purdue University
Department of Aviation Technology
Aviation Technology Bldg.
1401 Aviation Dr.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2015

Phone: (765) 494-9962
Website: http://www.purdue.edu/
Degree: 4 Year
Estimated Tuition: $4,535 (resident) per semester, $13,311 (non-resident) per semester
Room and Board: $4,560 per semester

Description of School: Purdue University is one of the most recognizable public schools in the United States for both quality of education and athletics. According the magazine U.S. News and World Report, Purdue University was ranked number 18th in the nation for best public schools to attend.

Purdue also has an AT-CTI approved program so graduating from this university will give you a leg up on other individuals hoping to get hired by the FAA.

In your spare time at this school there’s plenty to see and do. The school’s team mascot the Purdue BoilerMakers produce some of the highest quality teams in the country.

Description of Town: Did you know that one of the founders of M&M’s candy came out of Lafayette, Indiana? Well, it’s true. This community has a number of notable characters that have gone on to do tremendous things.

The town was originally founded back in the 1700s by the French when the camp was a hub for fur traders, travelers, and Native Americans. Today, it is most well-known for Purdue University. Lafayette has a population of about 56,000 residents.

*Information provided on this page is subject to change and may be inaccurate. Contact a Purdue University representative for updated information.

Contact Details:

Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Air Traffic Control Training Program
10100 Flying Cloud Dr.
Eden Prairie, MN 55347

Phone: (800) 475-2828
Website: http://www.minneapolis.edu/
Degree: 2 Year
Estimated Tuition: $1,812 per semester
Rent: $550 – $1,500 per month

Description of School: Minneapolis Community and Technical College is actually located outside the city of Minneapolis in the suburb of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The airport in Eden Prairie (where some of your ATC classes will be held) are located at a small airport. The majority of air traffic here is from small jets and airplanes.

MCTC is a relatively large junior college with over 14,000 students enrolled in classes for credit.

Description of Town: In short, Eden Prairie is a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It’s a nice community with lots of lakes, trees, and families. Fortunately, it’s just a short drive from the Twin Cities where you’ll find major league sports teams like the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, and Timber Wolves. Also the Mall of America is located about 45 minutes from this town.

In the summertime, there’s actually a lot of things to do in the area around Eden Prairie. For example, there are a lot of lakes which are nice if you enjoy fishing or boating. Also, located about 15 minutes south of Eden Prairie is the Canterbury Card Club / horse racing track, Valley Fair (an amusement park), and also a casino. If you’re looking for an AT-CTI school with low cost and location that’s nearby numerous attractions, Minneapolis Community and Technical College could be the right choice for you.

*Information provided on this page is subject to change and may be inaccurate. Contact a Minneapolis Community and Technical College representative for updated information.

Contact Details:

Mount San Antonio College
1100 N. Grand Ave.
Walnut, CA 91789-1399

Phone: (909) 594-5611 ext. 3098
Website: http://www.mtsac.edu/
Degree: 2 Year
Estimated Tuition: $312 for 12 units (resident), $2,280 for 12 units (non-resident)
Rent: $1,000 – $1,600 per month

Description of School: Mount San Antonio College is a two-year AT-CTI approved school that you can graduate from with almost no debt if you’re a California resident. You read that right, you can get each unit of education for only $26 plus a few very reasonable fees.

Mount San Antonio is one of the largest community colleges in the state of California and boast more than 200 degree programs, including training to become an air traffic control specialist.

Description of Town: Mount San Antonio College is located in Walnut, California. And not Texas as the name would suggest. And while the tuition at this community college is exceptional, you’ll make some of the cost with the higher-cost of rent. However, if you don’t mind living with your parents an extra couple of years, you’ll be able to get your training completed with almost no debt.

Walnut, California, has a population of just over 30,000 residents. This may seem small, but it is nearby other towns. The population is largely of Asian decent. This training facility is basically a suburb of the city of Los Angeles so if you like warm weather, don’t mind traffic and living in a densely populated area MSAC could be the right temporary home for you.

*Information provided on this page is subject to change and may be inaccurate. Contact a Mount San Antonio College representative for updated information.

Contact Details:

Middle Tennessee State University
1500 Greenland Dr., BAS S211
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Phone: (615) 898-2290
Website: http://www.mtsu.edu/
Degree: 4 Year
Estimated Tuition: $3,149 (resident) per semester, $9,413 (non-resident) per semester
Housing: $2,000 – $4,000 per semester depending on living preferences.

Description of School: Middle Tennessee State University is an AT-CTI air traffic control school. What’s that mean? For starters, it means the university is part of the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative that help graduates qualify to be ATC professionals.

Middle Tennessee State University is a four year university. That means this isn’t the cheapest way to attend an AT-CTI school, but if you want the classic four-year college experience this could be a good option for you.

Description of Town: The university campus is located in Mufreesboro, Tennessee. Mufreesboro is a decent-sized community of just over 100,000 residents.

One advantage to attending school in this town is that the median income in this community is relatively low at about $46,000. This is ideal because it means lower monthly rental payments while attending school.

While your not in class their are a number of location attractions to take advantage of in the area, including: shopping malls, restaurants, and bars. If you’re considering a career in ATC this might be the right choice for you.

*Information provided on this page is subject to change and may be inaccurate. Contact a Middle Tennessee State University representative for updated information.

Back in the good ol’ days, standardized tests where taken with a pen and eraser on a paper exam. But if you’re expecting to be circling in bubbles on the air traffic control test (AT-SAT), you’ll be in for quite a surprise.

Word of warning: The AT-SAT isn’t your father’s standardized test. This exam is 100% digital.

So if you’re preparing for a test you’ll be taking on a computer with timed simulations to score performance, why the heck are you still using a text book to prepare for the AT-SAT? That’s so 20th century.

Don’t get me wrong, I still recommend picking up a book like Air Traffic Control Career Prep to get you familiar with the career and provide a solid base of knowledge to help prepare for the air traffic control test. But if you really want to know what it’s really like to take the AT-SAT before your scheduled test date, you need software. And the best of breed program I know of is ATC Prep.

ATC Prep: Preparation Suite for Air Traffic Controller Selection and Training

ATC Prep is AT-SAT simulation software. So instead of reading about the test, you’ll be practicing the AT-SAT. This is especially helpful when preparing for the air traffic scenarios portion of the test where timing and reaction is critical.

As you might already know, the scenarios test is an ATC radar simulator. During the AT-SAT, the screen will update every few seconds to display where traffic has moved within your air space. The goal is to direct air traffic safely and efficiently to it’s destination.

Will you be able to sufficiently prepare yourself for the AT-SAT by studying for this segment of the test out of a book? You very well might. But why risk it? Hopefully, this is your future career and the more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll be taking the test.

ATC Prep provides scenarios for each portion of the pre-employment exam, including the letter factory, scan test, air traffic scenarios, and applied mathematics. Learn details about the program here.

Feedback

In addition to training, the ATC Prep provides feedback on each portion of your AT-SAT training so you can better evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Like other standardized tests, there will be segments that come extremely easy to you, while other sections may require a lot of practice to get comfortable with. The AT-SAT will be no different in that regard.

ATC Prep automatically highlights your personal strengths and weaknesses so you know exactly what to work on. It also records your scores on the practice exams automatically so you can track improvement.

Bottom Line

To pass the AT-SAT you’ll need to record a score of 70 or above to be eligible for a position with the FAA. A score of 85 or above is considered to be “well qualified” by the FAA, which is ideally where you want to end up. With practice, ATC Prep will certainly help you move into that upper echelon of well-qualified air traffic control candidates. Learn more about the software here.