Departure Control Specialist Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Departure Control Specialist

Best Schools to become a Departure Control Specialist in U.S. 2024

Broward College

Fort Lauderdale, FL

In-State Tuition:$1,968
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,402
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:35%
Total Enrollment:30,057

International Air and Hospitality Academy

Vancouver, WA

In-State Tuition:$N/A
Out-of-State Tuition:$N/A
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:73%
Total Enrollment:133

Florida State College at Jacksonville

Jacksonville, FL

In-State Tuition:$2,095
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,947
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:37%
Total Enrollment:20,363

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL

In-State Tuition:$9,638
Out-of-State Tuition:$9,638
Admission Rate:91%
Graduation Rate:49%
Total Enrollment:11,107

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

Flushing, NY

In-State Tuition:$26,880
Out-of-State Tuition:$26,880
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:40%
Total Enrollment:1,187

Auburn University

Auburn, AL

In-State Tuition:$10,392
Out-of-State Tuition:$31,176
Admission Rate:44%
Graduation Rate:81%
Total Enrollment:31,764
Departure Control Specialist Job Description:
  • Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies.
  • Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Departure Control Specialist

Job Duties for Departure Control Specialists

  • Inform pilots about nearby planes or potentially hazardous conditions, such as weather, speed and direction of wind, or visibility problems.

  • Issue landing and take-off authorizations or instructions.

  • Transfer control of departing flights to traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights.

Technologies and Skills Used by Departure Control Specialists

Flight control software

  • Direct-to-tool software
  • Traffic management advisor TMA software

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Basic Skills

  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • Talking to others

People and Technology Systems

  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Departure Control Specialist

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Departure Control Specialist

FAQs About Becoming a Departure Control Specialist